Photo Credit: EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA via www.pexels.com
What is the Extended Producer’s Responsibility?
The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a new UK law that will replace the current Packaging Waste Regulations in stages this year. It is an environmental policy that requires companies to pay the full cost of managing the waste they produce, from when it is placed on the market to the end of its life.
The aim of the EPR is to reduce the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle. This means that companies that produce polluting products must pay for the damage to the environment and public health that their products cause. Further to this, under the EPR, packaging producers will be responsible for the entire cost of recycling the packaging they place on the market, including the cost of collection and treatment.
Research on the impact of EPR in seven paper and packaging recycling programs around the world has been extremely positive and the research shows that EPR has accelerated the collection and recycling of target materials to over 75% in British Columbia, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, and South Korea. In Portugal and Quebec, EPR has accelerated collection and recycling by 60%. So, all in all, these results are extremely positive.
If you are looking for a company that deals with sustainable packaging and that takes part in the Government’s Net Zero initiative then get in touch with Tyler Packaging today.
What actions need to be taken under Extended Producer Responsibility?
In order to comply with the EPR, you may need to collect and report data on the packaging you supply or import. You will also need to pay a waste management fee, pay scheme administrator costs, and pay a charge to the environmental regulator.
On top of the fees that will need to get paid, you will need to get packaging waste recycling notes (PRNs) or packaging waste export recycling notes (PERNs) to meet your recycling obligations as a company. Once you have done this, you will need to report information about which nation in the UK packaging is supplied in and which nation in the UK packaging is discarded in, known as ‘nation data’.
How will the EPR affect businesses?
Any business that handles packaging will be affected by the EPR. The size of your business will also influence the type of actions that need to be taken by you to ensure that you are following regulations.
A small business is considered to have an annual turnover between £1 million and £2 million and is responsible for handling 25 tonnes or more of empty packaging or packaged goods throughout the UK in one calendar year.
A large business is considered to have an annual turnover of £2 million or more and is responsible for handling and supplying more than 50 tonnes of empty packaging or packaged goods within one calendar year.
EPR FAQs
- What packaging activities come under the Extended Producer Responsibility regulation?
If your business handles any of the following packaging activities, you will need to follow EPR regulations:
- 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
2. What should the data submission include?
According to Gov.UK, your business should start preparing as soon as possible to capture your packaging data. The data submission should include your packaging activity, packaging type, and packaging class.
Follow us today for more information on sustainable packaging.
What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?
EPR is a new UK law that requires companies to pay the full cost of managing the waste they produce, from when it is placed on the market to the end of its life. The aim of EPR is to reduce the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle.
What are the benefits of EPR?
Research has shown that EPR can accelerate the collection and recycling of target materials by over 75%. EPR can also help to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill and incineration.
What actions need to be taken under EPR?
Businesses that are affected by EPR will need to collect and report data on the packaging they supply or import. They will also need to pay a waste management fee, pay scheme administrator costs, and pay a charge to the environmental regulator.
How will EPR affect businesses?
All businesses that handle packaging will be affected by EPR. The size of your business will determine the type of actions that you need to take to comply with the regulations.
What packaging activities come under EPR?
If your business handles any of the following packaging activities, you will need to follow EPR regulations:
- 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 should the data submission include?
Your business should start preparing as soon as possible to capture your packaging data. The data submission should include your packaging activity, packaging type, and packaging class