What the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme Means for Packaging in 2025

The UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme is now live, ushering in one of the most significant overhauls of packaging regulation in decades. For businesses handling packaging from manufacturers and importers to retailers, the new rules shift the cost and accountability of waste management directly to producers. Here’s what you need to know.

The Basics of EPR

EPR isn’t just a policy buzzword. It fundamentally rethinks who pays for packaging waste. Under the scheme, producers must cover the full net cost of collecting, sorting, and recycling the packaging they place on the market. That includes household, street bin, and business waste streams.

The legislation applies to any UK organisation that places over 25 tonnes of packaging on the market annually and has a turnover above £1 million. It replaces the previous Packaging Waste Recovery Note (PRN) system and introduces more detailed reporting requirements and differentiated fees based on recyclability.

Key Changes in 2025

As of 2025, full modulated fees are set to apply. This means companies will be charged more for packaging that is difficult to recycle and less for material that’s easy to process through the UK’s recycling infrastructure. Think: black plastic trays and composite pouches versus clear PET bottles or mono PE films.

In addition, data submission deadlines for packaging placed on the market are now quarterly, and packaging must be reported in granular detail by material type, weight, and format. These changes aim to increase transparency and drive design for recyclability.

Why It Matters

For UK producers, EPR isn’t just a regulatory hurdle, it’s a financial incentive to innovate. The cost of poor packaging choices will be felt directly on the bottom line, making recyclable, simplified, and mono material packaging more attractive than ever.

It also empowers local authorities by ensuring consistent funding for waste collection and recycling, helping to standardise services across the UK and support a circular economy.

How Polpi Is Responding

At Polpi, we’ve long recognised that sustainability isn’t optional, it’s a business imperative. That’s why our polythene packaging solutions are built with recyclability in mind, using mono material designs that reduce contamination and improve recovery rates.

We’re also working with clients to understand the new reporting standards and advising on packaging formats that can help minimise EPR fees without compromising performance.

Our geomembranes and industrial films, while outside household waste, also reflect our commitment to durability, reuse, and long-term sustainability.

Looking Ahead

The EPR scheme is still evolving, with further guidance expected in the months ahead. But one thing is clear: the UK is moving toward a packaging system where producers must take full responsibility for what they create.

For businesses, that means acting now, auditing packaging portfolios, understanding data obligations, and investing in recyclable and compliant materials.

At Polpi, we’re here to help our partners navigate these changes with confidence and clarity.