DEFRA has opened a consultation on the UK’s approach to the recovery of packaging waste, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This has significant implications for brand owners, as well as importers, distributors, online marketplaces, and service providers. In summary, all packaging that is not included in the UK or Scotland Deposit Return Schemes will be included in EPR.

This is an opportunity for WSTA members to hear from Valpak about EPR and pose questions to them. Valpak provides companies with help on environmental compliance and recycling solutions. Their research, including; Covid-19, single plastics, costs of EPR, PRNs, and other reports, are quoted throughout Defra’s EPR consultation.

Under these proposals for EPR, Defra is placing the main point of obligation on Brand Owners to “ensure that the requirement to pay fees to cover the costs of managing packaging waste, and the modulation of those fees, are placed on those with most influence over decisions made at the design stage and in the choice of packaging used on their products. Brand Owners are best placed to act quickly and effectively to change the packaging used on their products”. We can expect modulation of fees to incentivise packaging formats, material use and increased recyclability.