Zespri will introduce the world's first and only fully compostable fruit labels on all Zespri Organic Kiwifruit next season.
Zespri's Global Marketing Manager - Organic, Glen Arrowsmith, explains this initiative is part of Zespri's leadership role and ongoing commitment to improving the environmental credentials of its products.
"Our international customers - retailers, wholesalers, consumers, governments - are increasingly interested in the sustainability of products arriving in their markets and we've invested in research and development to continue to lead the market in this area."
Zespri has worked closely with US-based label manufacturer Sinclair Systems for the past four years to overcome the significant technical challenges involved. This launch builds on a large-scale trial this year of five million of the compostable labels on Zespri Organic fruit sold across Europe, North America and some Asian markets.
"Making a premium Zespri brand label stick to hairy kiwifruit skin, hold together under the high humidity and cold temperatures in storage, and then break down reasonably quickly when thrown out with the fruit skin - it was a big challenge. But we've done it.