Question 1

What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging?

Accepted Answer

EPR is a set of rules that makes the businesses that create packaging pay for what happens to it once it becomes waste. The cost used to fall on councils and taxpayers. In the UK, producers now report how much packaging they place on the market and pay fees to cover its collection and recycling. The idea is simple: the more recyclable your packaging, the less you pay.

Question 2

Does my business need to comply with packaging EPR?

Accepted Answer

You're likely to be obligated if your business has an annual turnover of over £1 million and handles more than 25 tonnes of packaging a year in the UK. You need to meet both thresholds, not just one. "Handling" covers activities like selling branded packaged goods, packing or filling products, importing packaged goods, running an online marketplace, or supplying empty packaging. If you're not sure, get in touch and we'll help you work it out.

Question 3

What's the difference between a large and small producer?

Accepted Answer

A large producer has a turnover of £2 million or more and handles over 50 tonnes of packaging a year. A small producer sits between the two thresholds: over £1 million turnover and over 25 tonnes, but below at least one of the large producer limits. Small producers report their data once a year. Large producers report every six months and also pay waste management fees.

Question 4

Who counts as the "producer" of packaging?

Accepted Answer

Usually the business with the most control over the packaging. That's normally the brand owner. If there's no UK brand owner, it's typically the importer, packer/filler or distributor. Online marketplaces also have obligations for packaging sold by overseas sellers on their platforms. It's worth checking your role for each product line, because one business can hold several.

Question 5

What packaging data do I need to collect?

Accepted Answer

For every packaging item, you'll need to record the activity (e.g. brand owner or importer), packaging type (household or non-household), class (primary, secondary, shipment or tertiary), material and weight. Large producers must also split plastics into flexible and rigid. Getting this right at component level is the foundation for everything else, including your recyclability ratings and your fees.

Question 6

When are the EPR reporting deadlines?

Accepted Answer

Large producers report twice a year: January to June data by 1 October, and July to December data by 1 April the following year. Small producers report their full year's data once, by 1 April the following year. Missing a deadline can lead to enforcement action, so build your data collection into your regular processes rather than leaving it to the last minute.

Question 7

How are EPR fees calculated?

Accepted Answer

Fees for large producers are based on the tonnage of household packaging you place on the market, the material type, and its recyclability rating under RAM. Amber-rated packaging pays the base fee for its material. Red-rated packaging pays more: 20% above the amber fee in 2026/27, rising to 60% more in 2027/28 and double in 2028/29. Green-rated packaging gets a discount.

Reath's Packaging Manager calculates your EPR fees for you, so you know exactly what you'll pay before you submit.

Question 8

How can I reduce my EPR fees?

Accepted Answer

The biggest lever is recyclability. Moving packaging from red to amber, or from amber to green, directly lowers what you pay per tonne. Reducing packaging weight helps too. Accurate data matters as well, because packaging without enough information to assess is treated as red by default. Reath's Packaging Comparator lets you model fees for alternative formats before you commit to a change.

Question 9

What happens if I don't comply with EPR?

Accepted Answer

Businesses that don't register, report or pay can face enforcement action from the environmental regulators, including financial penalties. Inaccurate data carries risk too, as regulators can audit your submissions. Beyond the penalties, poor-quality data often means paying more than you need to, because unassessed packaging defaults to the highest fee band.

Question 10

Does EPR apply outside the UK?

Accepted Answer

Yes. EPR is a global trend. The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation sets rules for all member states, with a strong focus on recyclability. In the US, states such as Maine, Oregon and California have introduced their own laws, and Canada runs provincial schemes. If you sell in more than one market, a single source of packaging data makes multi-country compliance much easier.

Extended Producer Responsibility

What even is EPR?

Track and pay

Fees reflect impact

Rewards better design

Not sure if you need to pay?

How it works

Collect your data

Report it

Pay your fees

Improve your design

It's not just the UK. EPR is global

European Union

United States

Canada

How Reath can help

Packaging Manager

EPR reporting

Packaging Comparator

EPR FAQs

Get EPR-ready