Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging in the UK is a new legislation that requires producers or brands to cover the costs of recycling their post-consumer packaging. The goal is to shift the responsibility of recycling costs from consumers to businesses and hold packaging producers accountable for the environmental impact of their products. This initiative encourages the adoption of more sustainable practices.

The Government are actively working to decrease single-use packaging. The goal of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is to incentivise businesses to use packaging that can be easily recycled by households.

The objective of this initiative is to establish a circular economy and impose accountability on packaging producers for the environmental impact of their products in the UK market. it also aims to ensure that businesses bear the expenses associated with collecting, disposing, and recycling packaging waste. These financial responsibilities will be enforced starting in 2025.

You may need to act if you do any of the following:

Supply packaged goods to the UK market under your own brand

• Place goods into packaging that’s unbranded when it’s supplied
• Import products in packaging
• Own an online marketplace
• Hire or loan out reusable packaging
• Supply empty packaging

What you need to do depends on whether you’re classed as a ‘small’ or ‘large’ organisation. This is based on:

• Your annual turnover
• How much packaging you supply or import each year

Check if you’re a large or small organisation

You’re classed as a small organisation if either of the following apply:

• Your annual turnover is between £1 million and £2 million and you’re responsible for supplying or importing more than 25 tonnes of empty packaging or packaged goods in the UK
• Your annual turnover is over £1 million and you’re responsible for supplying or importing between 25 tonnes and 50 tonnes of empty packaging or packaged goods in the UK

You will be classed as a large organisation if both of the following apply:

• You have an annual turnover of £2 million or more
• You’re responsible for supplying or importing more than 50 tonnes of empty packaging or packaged goods in the UK

Vital details required regarding your business:

In our capacity as a supplier of wholesale packaging, we are mandated by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to inform them about the categories of customers we serve under EPR. We will soon reach out to our customers to inquire about their producer type:

1. Large Organization
2. Small Organization
3. Not Applicable

For additional guidance, please refer to the official Gov.uk website for comprehensive information on Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging, detailing those impacted and necessary actions.

Contact us about Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging. Call us on 01373 864324 or email sales@taylor-davis.co.uk