If you haven’t heard much about Extended Producer Responsibility yet, it’s worth getting up to speed. EPR is one of the most significant changes to UK packaging legislation in years, and it’s already affecting what businesses pay and what they choose to pack their products in.
Here’s what it means in plain English, and why it matters if you buy polythene.
What is EPR?
Extended Producer Responsibility is a UK government policy that shifts the financial cost of collecting and recycling packaging away from local councils and onto the businesses that put packaging on the market in the first place.
In practical terms, if your business supplies, imports or sells packaged goods in the UK above certain volume and turnover thresholds, you’re required to report how much packaging you use and pay fees based on the type and weight of material involved.
The fees are calculated per tonne of packaging placed on the market, and they vary depending on the material, polythene, cardboard, glass, aluminium and so on are all rated differently, based on how recyclable they are and the cost of collecting and processing each material type.
Why does the material you choose matter?
Under EPR, not all packaging is equal. Materials that are harder or more expensive to recycle attract higher fees. Materials that are widely recyclable and already part of established collection infrastructure attract lower ones.
Polythene, when correctly specified and where it’s compatible with existing kerbside or industrial recycling streams can be one of the more cost-efficient choices under the new framework. But that very much depends on the type of polythene being used, whether it contains recycled content, and whether it’s been specified appropriately for the job.
This is where many businesses are starting to look more carefully at what they’re actually ordering and why.
What about the Plastic Packaging Tax?
EPR sits alongside, but is separate from, the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), which has been in place since April 2022. PPT applies to plastic packaging components that contain less than 30% recycled content, currently at a rate of £217.85 per tonne.
Together, PPT and EPR mean that businesses using virgin, non-recyclable or poorly specified plastic packaging now face fees on two fronts. Getting your specification right isn’t just good practice it’s increasingly a cost control measure.
What can businesses do?
The good news is that the right packaging decisions can reduce your exposure under both schemes. Switching to polythene that contains recycled content can reduce or eliminate your PPT liability. Choosing materials that are widely recyclable and using the right gauge and format for your application can lower your EPR fee band.
It’s also worth reviewing whether you’re using more packaging than you need. Oversized bags, excess film, heavier gauge than required all of these add weight, and under EPR, weight translates directly into cost.
For businesses that have never looked closely at their polythene specification, this is a practical reason to start.
How Trademark Polythene can help
With over 35 years of experience, Trademark Polythene works with businesses across the UK to make sure they’re using the right product for the job not just the most familiar one. That includes helping clients understand whether their current packaging is fit for purpose under the new regulatory landscape, and where alternatives might reduce both waste and cost.
If you’d like to talk through your current packaging and what EPR might mean for your business, get in touch at www.trademarkpolythene.co.uk we’re happy to help.