Swansea 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

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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Swansea residents embrace new soft plastics recycling trial
More than five tonnes collected already as households back the city’s new scheme.

New recycling scheme targets farm plastic pollution
Welsh river catchments benefit from a project tackling agricultural plastic waste.

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Folly Farm penguin keeper crowned Miss Earth Wales 2025

Abigail Wood joined Folly Farm earlier this year as a seasonal penguin keeper, helping to care for their array of vulnerable Humboldt and Macaroni penguins at their Penguin Coast exhibit.

Folly Farm say that Abigail’s passion for environmental issues and commitment to sustainability has been evident already – and aligns with Folly Farm’s own commitment to conservation and sustainable practice. Her determination and hard work have certainly helped her to earn her place as Miss Earth Wales 2025.

Miss Earth Wales is the Welsh entry to the Miss Earth pageant, an international environment event channelling the beauty pageant industry as an effective tool to promote environmental awareness. Abigail will be representing Wales on the international stage at the Miss Earth pageant later this year – with her colleagues rooting for her all the way!

Miss Earth Wales, Abigail Wood
(Image: Andrew Mee)Abigail being crowned at the ceremony in Barry
(Image: Andrew Mee)Abigail at work in the penguin enclosure at Folly Farm

Abigail holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Biology: Conservation and Resource Management from Swansea University – and is the founder of the ‘Wild About Nature’ initiative, a program dedicated to connecting children with nature and encouraging them to become passionate conservationists and future eco-leaders, including publishing a children’s nature activity book.

Abigail enthused; “My passion for wildlife began from a very young age and my advocacy is a reflection of the hard work that I’ve put into creating my Wild About Nature Activity Book. The book aims to encourage children to embrace nature and inspire the next generation of conservation experts.”

She continued; “I felt immensely proud to have felt that my hard work and dedication to our environment has been noticed. I cannot wait for the sash ceremony at Miss Earth, where I can wear Wales proudly across my chest and represent our beautiful country and advocate for a sustainable future for our wildlife.”

A spokesperson from Folly Farm said: “We wish Abigail the best of luck with the Miss Earth event later this year – what an inspiring young woman and a true role model”.

#conservation #Environment #FollyFarm #MissEarth #MissEarthWales #Pembrokeshire #Penguins