EditorSwansea student launches petition to ban plastic fruit stickers
Campaign to tackle “overlooked” plastic waste
Milena Tomaszewska, founder of the sustainability platform Circularity Champions on Instagram, says the small labels are an often‑ignored source of plastic pollution.
“Fruit stickers may look small, but collectively they contribute to huge amounts of unnecessary plastic waste,” she said. “They contaminate composting, harm marine life and add to the mounting problem of microplastics. It’s time the UK followed other countries in banning them.”
Petition to Parliament
The petition — available at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/735287 — needs 10,000 signatures to receive a government response, and 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in Parliament.
It calls for the UK to follow France and New Zealand, which have already introduced bans, and suggests alternatives such as compostable labels or laser‑etching.
Plastic stickers are used on billions of items each year, with many ending up in landfill or the ocean, where they can break down into harmful microplastics.
🍌 Why fruit stickers matter
What they are:
Small plastic labels used to identify fruit and veg varieties in supermarkets.
Why campaigners want a ban:
They contaminate composting, contribute to microplastic pollution, and harm marine life.
Alternatives:
Compostable stickers, laser‑etching directly onto fruit skin, or paper‑based labels.
International examples:
France and New Zealand have already banned plastic fruit stickers.
Local links in Pembrokeshire
To build momentum, Milena is partnering with Sea Trust Wales at Ocean Lab in Goodwick this winter. The event will combine circular economy workshops, marine conservation activities, and petition signing, while also raising funds for the charity’s work.
“This is an opportunity for Pembrokeshire to play a leading role in a national movement,” Milena said. “By signing and sharing the petition, local people can directly influence change on a global issue.”
Swansea roots and sustainability focus
Alongside her campaigning, Milena is studying for an MSc in Computer Science at Swansea University, combining her passion for technology and sustainability. She was crowned Miss Earth Wales Water 2024/25, a title that recognises environmental advocacy.
Her campaign adds to growing calls for Swansea and West Wales to play a leading role in tackling plastic waste, with schools, businesses and community groups encouraged to get involved.
How to support
- Sign the petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/735287
- Deadline: 13 February 2026
- Target: 10,000 signatures for a government response; 100,000 for a parliamentary debate
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