10
Extended Producer
Responsibility
EPR regulations have been implemented inline
with the UK’s commitment to limit the global
average temperature rise to well below 2°C,
as per the 2019 Paris Agreement.
It is a policy approach that has been adopted
by many countries and introduces the “Polluter
Pays” principle. This shifts the responsibility
for 100% of the costs of the full life cycle of
packaging (including recovery, processing, and
disposal) to “Brand Owners” or producers. EPR
will introduce higher packaging waste costs for
items that are harder to manage.
EPR means the producer of packaging is accountable
for the total cost of managing the packaging waste.
This puts the onus back onto the producer rather
than the customer and supply chain, and encourages
a circular economy model through recycling
initiatives. Within the new regulation, increased
fees for the use of hard-to-recycle materials in
packaging will also be introduced. The plan will
be implemented in a phased approach, with full
compliance by 2027.
Reporting requirements have already begun,
with payments from 2025. Packaging should be
designed with recyclability in mind, aiming for
mono-materials or easily separable components
to facilitate the recycling process.
Just as consumer awareness over the sustainability
of packaging has continued to rise, producers
should now be more engaged in the entire life cycle
of their packaging. The introduction of EPR will
promote the importance of reducing the amount
of weight in packaging product, especially those
destined for consumers and household waste.
EPR is a scheme that incentivises
producers to design packaging
that is easy to recycle.
Department for Environment,
Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)