Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a new UK law that will be phased in from 2023 to replace the current packaging waste regulation. The plan is for him to be fully implemented by 2027.
This is an environmental policy that requires producers to pay the full cost of treating the waste they produce from the time it is placed on the market until the end of its life.
The idea behind extended producer responsibility is to reduce the environmental impact of packaging. Under the EPR proposal, packaging manufacturers would bear the entire cost of packaging recycling, including collection, treatment and recycling costs.
research shows that the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility has increased the percentage of paper and packaging recycled to over 75 percent in seven jurisdictions, including Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands.
Plastic Packaging Tax – What does it mean for my small business? From April 2022, businesses will have to pay a plastic packaging tax.Find out what it is and if it affects you
Will Extended Producer Responsibility affect my business?
Most micro and small businesses are immune to Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging.
However, if your business has an annual turnover between £1m and £2m and you are responsible for processing and supplying more than 25 tonnes of empty packages or packed goods throughout the calendar year, yes you are affected. increase.
You can use this government checker to see if you need to report your packing data here.
What does packing activity mean?
You may need to take action if you do any of the following:
- Supply packaged products to the UK market under our own brand
- Place the goods in generic packaging when supplied
- Pack and import products
- own an online marketplace
- Rent or rent reusable packaging
- supply empty packaging
How is your business using sustainable packaging to increase sales? – Here we discuss the benefits of moving to sustainable packaging and outline some practical ways to embrace the green revolution.
What do I need to do if my small business is eligible for Extended Producer Responsibility?
- Please be sure to record data for all empty packages and packages you are handling and supplying on the UK market as of 1 January 2023.
- Register for the EPR Packaging Online Service. Registration for small businesses is expected to open in 2024.
- Please provide data on empty packaging and packaged products you have placed or supplied on the UK market in 2023
What should be included in the data submission?
If affected, businesses should start preparing to capture packaging data now. Data transmissions must include the following weights:
- Individual materials in packages that you handle and supply
- Materials used for primary, secondary and transport packaging
- Packaging that can become household or non-household waste
- Packaging that can end up in street bins
2023 data must be submitted between January 1, 2024 and April 1, 2024. Failure to pay will incur a penalty.
What to do next
- Collect and report data on the packaging you supply or import
- pay the waste management fee
- pay scheme admin costs
- pay a fee to an environmental regulator
- Obtain a Packaging Waste Recycling Note (PRN) or a Packaging Waste Export Recycling Note (PERN) to meet your recycling obligations.
- Reports information on which countries UK packages are sourced from and where UK packages are disposed of. This is called “country data”.
What happens next?
The European Commission has proposed extending the textile EPR from 2025 to address the industry’s exceptionally low recycling rate.
References
What is a Royal Warrant? – A Royal Warrant is considered a sign of endorsement from the King himself. But they could be used not only for luxury goods, but even for roofs and cans of baked beans. What is a Royal Warrant and how do I get one?