apple watch modern buckle watch band - got two new ones and the plastic cover left a sticky residue on one side

Just received new modern buckle style watch bands for my apple watch. When removing it from its package,

one end of the band has plastic covering it for protection. When I peeled it off, a sticky residue remained that I can't get off. This is the case with all 3 new bands. I have an old modern buckle watch band and it is not sticky and never was. How do I resolve this problem. Do all of them have a sticky residue or can I get new ones that don't have that?

[Edited by Moderator]