UK Packaging EPR
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/1332)
Topic : Packaging · Level : National
Today
In force; year 2 (2026-27) fees modulated by RAM; confirmed fees and first notice of liability due by end Nov 2026.
Summary
UK scheme making producers pay the full cost of household packaging waste. Large producers (over GBP 2m and 50 t) report data and pay fees, modulated by recyclability from year 2. Obligations sit with UK importers for goods packed abroad.
Who is concerned
- Turnover
- >GBP 2m (large); GBP 1-2m (small)
- Employees
- non précisé
- Listed company
- cotées et non cotées
- Sectors
- All packaged goods
- Retail and e-commerce
- Food and beverage
- Triggering activities
- Brand owner or importer of packaging
- Supplying >25 t packaging a year
- Online marketplace selling to UK
- Extraterritorial reach
- Yes
Obligation falls on the UK importer or online marketplace for goods packed abroad.
- Examples
- UK importer of Chinese consumer electronics
- Online marketplace selling Asian goods to UK
What the law requires
- Register with the environmental regulator and pay the PackUK fee
- Report packaging data by material, weight and recyclability twice a year (large)
- Pay waste disposal fees modulated by RAM rating (large producers)
Penalties
Late payment: variable monetary penalty, greater of 20% of unpaid fees or 5% of UK turnover (2% group), per PackUK terms; late registration fee.
What this changes for a supplier in China
UK importers need precise packaging weight, material and recyclability data from Chinese factories; poorly recyclable packs cost more from 2026-27.
Expected evidence
- Packaging spec per SKU (material, weight)
- Recyclability assessment (RAM inputs)
- Packaging supplier declarations
Tiers : Tier 1