If your business handles, imports, or supplies packaging in the UK, you’re affected by packaging waste regulations.
Whether you’re a one-person startup shipping candles from your kitchen or a manufacturer moving thousands of units a month, the rules apply.
The rules have changed significantly since 2023, and they’ll continue to change through 2026 as the UK’s packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme rolls out in full.
This guide explains what the current packaging regulations require, who they apply to, and what businesses that place packaging on the market need to do to stay compliant.
We’ve kept it as easy to understand as possible, because most small businesses don’t need a 40-page policy document. They need to know what applies to them and what to do about it.
What Are the UK Packaging Waste Regulations?
The UK packaging waste regulations are the rules that govern how packaging is produced, used, and disposed of in the UK market.
They place legal responsibility for packaging waste on the businesses that create or supply it, rather than leaving it to councils and consumers alone.
The original producer responsibility obligations came from the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007, which required larger businesses to recycle a percentage of the packaging they handled.
These regulations required producers to buy packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs) as evidence that packaging waste had been collected and recycled on their behalf.
The new regulations, formally the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, replace and expand the old system.
They introduce packaging extended producer responsibility (often shortened to pEPR).
This shifts a much greater share of the cost of collecting, sorting, and recycling of packaging waste from local councils onto the businesses that place packaging on the UK market.
The idea is straightforward.
If you put packaging into the system, you pay towards dealing with it when it becomes waste.
What Is Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging?
Extended producer responsibility is the principle that producers of packaging should bear responsibility for packaging waste disposal, not just production.
Under EPR, businesses that supply empty packaging or packaged goods to UK users will pay fees based on the amount of packaging they place on the market, the type of packaging material, and how easy that packaging is to recycle.
EPR fees are designed to incentivise better packaging design.
Packaging that is widely recyclable will attract lower fees. Packaging that is harder to recycle will attract higher EPR fees.
As part of the extended producer responsibility scheme, businesses also need to report packaging data to the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD).
This details the amount and type of packaging they’ve handled. The data then feeds into the UK’s packaging waste recycling targets and helps regulators track progress.
Who Do the Regulations Apply To?
The packaging waste regulations apply to packaging producers, which in legal terms means any UK business that performs one or more of the following activities:
- Manufactures raw materials used in packaging (paper, card, plastic, glass, metal, wood)
- Converts raw materials into packaging (printing, cutting, forming boxes, bags, etc.)
- Packs or fills packaging with products
- Sells packaged goods to the end consumer
- Imports packaging or packaged goods into the UK
Under the old regulations, only businesses with a turnover above £2 million and handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging per year needed to register.
The new regulations, which came into effect in 2025, bring more businesses into scope.
A new small producer category now captures businesses with a turnover of at least £1 million and handling more than 25 tonnes of packaging per year. Businesses have to submit their packaging data as part of their reporting.
Compliance Schemes: What They Do and Why You Might Need One
A compliance scheme is an organisation that helps packaging producers meet their producer responsibility obligations.
Instead of dealing with regulators, buying PRNs, and reporting packaging data individually, you pay the compliance scheme a fee and they handle it on your behalf.
For most UK businesses that handle significant amounts of packaging, joining a compliance scheme is the simplest route to compliance.
The scheme calculates your obligations based on packaging data you provide, purchases the necessary packaging waste recovery notes or packaging recovery notes, and submits your data to the regulator on your behalf.
If you’re below the reporting threshold, you may not need a compliance scheme at all.
But it is still important that you understand your obligations and keep records of the packaging they supply, especially in case the thresholds change or your business grows.
Packaging Data Reporting
Under the new regulations, businesses need to report packaging data covering the packaging they handle, including:
- The weight of packaging placed on the market, broken down by material (paper, card, plastic, glass, aluminium, steel, wood)
- Whether the packaging is household packaging waste or commercial/industrial
- Recyclability of their packaging
- Whether the packaging is imported into the UK or produced domestically
Large producers began reporting packaging data in 2023, with additional data requirements applying from April 2025.
Smaller producers have later deadlines, with some obligations not kicking in until December 2025 or 2026.
If you’re unsure whether you need to report their packaging data, check with a compliance scheme or the Environment Agency.
Recyclability and Packaging Design
One of the biggest shifts in the new regulations is the emphasis on recyclability.
The regulations require producers to think about what happens to their packaging after the customer has finished with it. They use EPR fees to reward recyclable packaging and penalise packaging that can’t be recycled.
Packaging must be designed so that it can be recycled through the existing UK recycling infrastructure.
That means avoiding unnecessary packaging, reducing packaging waste where possible, and choosing materials that are widely collected and reprocessed.
Packaging materials like corrugated cardboard, solid board, and paper are among the most recyclable packaging types in the UK. Certain plastics, composite materials, and multi-layer films are harder to recycle and will cost more under EPR.
For businesses thinking about their packaging design, this is worth considering early.
Choosing recyclable packaging from the start means lower EPR fees, a simpler waste disposal story for your customers, and alignment with where the regulations are heading.
The Plastic Packaging Tax
Alongside EPR, UK businesses also need to be aware of the UK plastic packaging tax.
The tax has been in effect since April 2022 and has steadily increased over the years.
The current rate for the plastic packaging tax (2026) is £228.82 per tonne.
The tax is applied to plastic packaging manufactured in or imported into the UK that contains less than 30% recycled content. And it affects producers and importers who handle 10 or more tonnes of plastic packaging per year.
The plastic packaging tax is separate from EPR fees but works towards the same goal. Reducing plastic waste and encouraging the use of recycled materials.
If your packaging is made from cardboard, paper, or other non-plastic materials, this tax doesn’t apply to packaging you produce.
But if you use any plastic components, such as windows in boxes, plastic tape, shrink wrap, or plastic liners, they may fall within scope.
EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
If you sell products into the EU as well as the UK, you should also be aware of an additional packaging regulation.
It is called the EU packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR). It is in place to help increase the recycling of packaging, and phasing out certain types of single-use packaging.
While the UK is no longer directly bound by EU legislation, businesses that export to the EU must ensure they comply with both frameworks.
What This Means for Small Businesses
If you’re a small or growing business, the new packaging regulations can feel overwhelming.
But for most small producers, the practical steps are manageable:
Know What You Handle
Always keep track of the amount of packaging you place on the market each year, by weight and material.
Even if you’re below the reporting threshold, having this data ready means you won’t be scrambling if your business grows or the rules change.
Choose Recyclable Materials
Packaging made from single materials (like solid board or corrugated card) is easier and cheaper to recycle than multi-material packaging. This keeps your EPR costs lower and makes compliance simpler.
Custom Pack Studio produces all our packaging from 100% recyclable materials, which means you’re already on the right side of the regulations.
Reduce Unnecessary Packaging
The regulations encourage reducing packaging where possible.
Custom-sized boxes that fit your product properly, rather than oversized off-the-shelf packaging stuffed with void fill, reduce both material use and waste.
Staying Informed
The regulations are still evolving.
New requirements are being phased in through 2026, and EPR fees will be adjusted as more data becomes available.
Keep an eye on updates from the Environment Agency and Defra, or speak to a compliance scheme if you’re unsure.
Or work with a trusted packaging supplier like Custom Pack Studio who will be more than happy to help guide you through the new rules and regulations.
Contact Custom Pack Studio Today
Sustainable packaging does more than tick a regulatory box.
UK businesses that invest in recyclable, well-designed packaging now will face lower costs and fewer headaches as the regulations tighten further over the next few years.
If this is something that appeals to you and your business, Custom Pack Studio is the right packaging supplier for you.
Our trusted team is here to help you choose the packaging that fully meets your product’s needs while keeping you compliant with packaging legislation. And with no minimum order and a variety of sizes available, we can reduce packaging waste by giving you exactly what you want, when you need it.
To find out more about our services, get in touch with our team today.
