Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging is a major change in UK packaging regulations – and it will affect every business that produces or supplies packaging, including shipment packaging like timber pallets and crates.
From 2025, EPR rules come fully into force, replacing the old 2007 packaging waste regulations. Under EPR, producers – not local authorities or consumers – are responsible for the cost of managing packaging waste. The aim? To encourage greater recycling and reuse, and reduce the environmental impact of packaging.
If your business has a turnover of more than £1 million and handled over 25 tonnes of packaging last year, you are likely to be classed as an ‘obligated producer’. This means you will need to:
- Collect and report data on the packaging you use or import, including material type and whether it’s household or non-household
- Meet recycling obligations through Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs)
- Pay waste management and regulatory fees
- Provide ‘nation data’ on where packaging is supplied and discarded in the UK
What’s new from 2025?
For large producers (turnover over £2 million and 50+ tonnes of packaging), there is a new requirement: to report on how recyclable each packaging material is, using the government’s Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM).
RAM groups packaging into three categories:
- Green – widely recyclable in the UK
- Amber – recyclable, but with some collection or sorting challenges
- Red – difficult to recycle at scale
This will affect the fees you pay – packaging in the Green category will attract lower costs, while Red will be more expensive to manage.
Latest update: temporary pause on RAM enforcement
Pack UK has confirmed that while you still need to submit packaging data for January–June 2025, you won’t be penalised if you don’t include RAM data for this period. That said, RAM data submission will be possible through the online portal from 2nd September, and the deadline to submit is 22nd September.
At Nicklin, we’re closely following all EPR developments and are here to support our customers through these changes. If you have any questions about your packaging obligations or need help navigating the new rules, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Find out more about Extended Producer Responsibility.
