Copefrut adopts Sinclair compostable labels for apples, plums, kiwifruit to cut plastic waste
The partnership reflects both companies’ long-term sustainability commitments and global efforts to reduce reliance on single-use packaging
CHILE – Chilean fruit exporter Copefrut has partnered with Sinclair to implement a pioneering compostable labelling system for its global produce shipments, starting with apples, plums, and kiwifruit from the third quarter of 2026.
The partnership introduces Sinclair-T55, the world’s first fruit label certified for both home and industrial composting as a finished product. The initiative aims to eliminate single-use plastic waste by allowing consumers to dispose of labels directly with their organic food scraps.
Unlike traditional stickers, these labels are engineered to biodegrade fully without leaving environmental toxins or compromising the high-speed efficiency of packing facilities.
Felipe Casanova, General Manager at Copefrut International, said: “At Copefrut, sustainability is not an option; it is a responsibility embedded across our orchards, packing operations, and supply chain. Sustainability means delivering proven, certified solutions that eliminate unnecessary packaging without compromising performance.”
The move supports Copefrut’s broader sustainability strategy, which focuses on energy efficiency, water recovery, responsible resource management, and waste reduction across its operations.
Furthermore, the rollout commences in Q3 2026 across the apple, plum, and kiwifruit categories, with more than 50% of production having home-compostable labels by year-end, and 100% of production by 2027.
The partnership reflects both companies’ long-term sustainability commitments and global efforts to reduce reliance on single-use packaging. Andrés Nawrath, Commercial Manager at Copefrut, said: “A compostable fruit label reduces the waste footprint of necessary packaging and provides consumers with a convenient way to ensure waste management is quick and easy.“
Sinclair-T55 is certified to leading global composting standards, including EN 13432 for industrial composting and AS 5810 and NFT 51-800 for home composting.
Additionally, the label has been engineered for real-world use, delivering performance equivalent to conventional plastic labels in high-speed, high-humidity packing environments, ensuring that sustainability does not come at the expense of efficiency or food safety.
Duncan Jones, Senior Marketing Manager at Sinclair, said: “At Sinclair, we believe sustainability must be proven, not promised. Partnering with growers like Copefrut who embed sustainability across their operations shows what’s possible when agricultural responsibility and packaging innovation come together to reduce plastic waste in a meaningful, measurable way.“
In the end, this strategic shift represents a significant move toward environmentally responsible agriculture and simplified waste management for the end user.
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