The UK Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging is legislation that makes businesses legally and financially responsible for the collection, sorting, treatment, recycling, and disposal of the packaging they place on the UK market.
The EPR transfers the responsibility and the net cost of managing packaging waste from the taxpayer to brand owners and producers. The aim is that the direct cost of packaging recycling should be met by those placing the packaging onto the UK market.
Under the scheme, obligated businesses must meet packaging data reporting and registration requirements, while larger producers are also responsible for recycling obligations and applicable packaging waste disposal fees.
From 2026, disposal fees are adjusted according to packaging recyclability, with higher charges for materials that are harder to recycle.
Who must comply with UK EPR packaging regulations?
How to comply with the UK EPR scheme: Compliance Rules
How Much Are EPR Registration Fees?
How Much Are Waste Management Fees?
Business Checklist: Preparing for UK EPR Compliance
EPR Costs Shift: UK Businesses Face Up to 5x Higher Compliance Fees
How it Works in Practice: Extended Producer Responsibility Example
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the EU – What You Need to Know
Key Differences Between UK and EU EPR
What UK Businesses Selling in the EU Need to Do?
Simplify EPR compliance through smarter packaging data management
Large producers and importers must fund the recycling of their packaging waste through purchasing of Packaging Recycling Notes (PRNs). The EPR will fund the collection, treatment and sorting costs of packaging waste through direct payments from those producers.
Under the EPR scheme, eligible producers also pay waste disposal fees to PackUK, which uses the funding to support local authorities with the collection, sorting, recycling and disposal of household packaging waste.You need to take action if all of the following apply:
Businesses meeting these criteria are classified as either small or large producers, depending on their annual turnover and the amount of packaging they supply or import. Their reporting, registration and financial obligations vary accordingly.
Check official guidance as to whether your business must comply with UK EPR regulations.
Definition: Your business is generally classified as a small producer if either of the following applies:
Compliance Requirements:
Small producers are not generally required to purchase Packaging Recycling Notes (PRNs) or Packaging Export Recycling Notes (PERNs), or pay household packaging waste disposal fees.
Definition: Your business is generally classified as a large producer if both of the following apply:
Meet Reporting Deadlines
Important: If your organisation has missed a reporting or registration deadline, contact your relevant environmental regulator as soon as possible.
For the latest requirements and reporting dates, refer to the official UK Government EPR reporting guidance.
Under EPR, businesses have to pay the following fees depending on their size, packaging activities and the amount and type of packaging they place on the UK market:
Not all businesses are required to pay every fee. Small producers generally have registration and reporting obligations, while large producers face additional recycling and applicable waste disposal costs.
Source: GOV.UK – Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging: recycling obligations and waste disposal feesWhat you have to pay depends on the size of your organisation and whether it registers directly with its environmental regulator or through a compliance scheme.
Note: You’ll also need to pay fees to the compliance scheme if you choose to use one.
| Organisation | Direct registration | Through a compliance scheme |
| Large producers | £2,842 | £1,803 |
| Small producers | £1,303 | £696 |
Read more about EPR registration fees from the gov.uk website.
Waste management fees are the charges large producers pay for the packaging they put on the market. They’re worked out using the information they report. The fees, administered by PackUK, help cover the costs of collecting, sorting, recycling and disposing of household packaging waste.
For the 2026–27 assessment year, the fees will be based on 2025 packaging data. The cost depends on the type of material the packaging is made from and how much it weighs. As an example, the following are illustrative amber-rated fees published by PackUK:
Packaging fees (£ per tonne):
Please note: the fees may change before before final charges are confirmed. Businesses should consult the latest PackUK waste disposal fee guidance for current rates.
Recyclability-based fees from 2026–27
From the 2026–27 assessment year, waste disposal fees are adjusted according to packaging recyclability using the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM). Packaging is assessed and assigned one of three ratings:
For 2026–27, red-rated packaging attracts a 20% increase compared with the amber base fee. This is scheduled to rise to 60% in 2027–28 and 100% in 2028–29. Discounts for green-rated packaging depend on the proportion of packaging in each recyclability category.
For more information, see PackUK's waste disposal fee modulation policy.
3 essential steps to prepare for the EPR:
Under EPR legislation, responsibility now sits with one company. Producers will fund the net cost of the collection, sorting and treatment of packaging waste.
Under the previous producer responsibility system, compliance and recycling costs were shared throughout the supply chain, with a percentage responsibility allocated at different points. The biggest change under the EPR framework is the percentage responsibility for PRNs are no longer spread throughout the supply chain. Therefore, some larger businesses are likely to see their compliance costs rise to more than five times their current obligations, if not more.
It is estimated that EPR could generate up to £1.55bn in revenue, £1.47bn of which will be passed to Local Authorities to fund the collecting, managing, recycling and disposing of household packaging waste.
The example below shows how much EPR fees could increase for a large business:
Imagine a company with a £5 million turnover that puts 100 tonnes of packaging on the market each year, 70 tonnes are classified as green (more recyclable) and 30 tonnes as red (less recyclable) under the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM).
In 2024, the company would only need to buy recycling certificates (PRNs), costing around £10,000 in total.
However for the 2026-27 assessment year,using PackUK's illustrative waste disposal fees, the company's estimated costs could look like this:
| Packaging material | Quantity | Fee per tonne | Estimated Annual Cost |
| Green-rated cardboard boxes and paper packaging | 60 tonnes | £190 | £11,400 |
| Green-rated plastic packaging | 20 tonnes | £415 | £8,300 |
| Red-rated plastic mailing bags and protective packaging | 20 tonnes | £545 | £10,900 |
| Total | 100 tonnes | £30,600 |
In this example, the fashion retailer could face approximately £30,600 in annual EPR waste disposal fees alone, before accounting for registration fees and its separate recycling obligations through Packaging Recycling Notes (PRNs) or Packaging Export Recycling Notes (PERNs).
How Could Better Packaging Choices Reduce EPR Costs?
In our example, the retailer uses 20 tonnes of red-rated plastic packaging, costing an estimated £10,900 annually
If the company could redesign this packaging or switch to a green-rated alternative, while maintaining the same packaging weight, the illustrative cost would fall to £8,300.
That's a potential saving of £2,600 per year, simply by improving the recyclability of one type of packaging.
For fashion brands managing thousands of products across multiple suppliers, these savings could become significant.
What About Smaller Fashion and Textile Businesses?
By contrast, a smaller business with a turnover between £1 million and £2 million that places 25–50 tonnes of packaging on the market only needs to report its packaging data under the current EPR rules.
This means no PRN purchases and no waste management fees. For these businesses, compliance is more about paperwork than direct cost, making the financial impact of EPR far lighter compared to large producers.
The UK is not the only region implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. The European Union mandates several EPR schemes as part of its Circular Economy Action Plan, focusing on reducing waste and ensuring that producers take financial and operational responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products.
EU legislation mandates EPR schemes across several core product categories:
The EU's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force on 11 February 2025 and began applying on 12 August 2026, with further requirements being introduced in stages. The regulation replaces much of the previous Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and aims to harmonise packaging rules across the EU, increase recycling rates, and reduce packaging waste.
It includes requirements for packaging recyclability, recycled content, and labeling.
Although, the PPWR aims to harmonise packaging requirements across the EU, individual countries may have different regulations, reporting requirements, and fee structures. The key objectives of the EU PPWR framework include:
Packaging recyclability: All packaging placed on the EU market must meet recyclability requirements from 2030, with stricter requirements introduced over time.
Recycled content: Minimum recycled content requirements for certain plastic packaging will apply from 2030.
Packaging reduction and reuse: Businesses will face new requirements to minimise unnecessary packaging, reduce empty space and increase reuse in specified packaging categories.
Harmonised labelling: New EU-wide labelling requirements will be introduced to help consumers identify packaging materials and dispose of packaging correctly.
Extended Producer Responsibility: Ensuring producers cover the full costs of waste management - this includes collection, sorting, and recycling, with costs varying based on recyclability.
Boosting recycling targets: The EU has set ambitious recycling targets, including a 70% recycling rate for packaging waste by 2030.
The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is another key EPR regulation focused on the lifecycle management of electronic products. Producers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) are required to finance the collection, recycling, and disposal of electronic waste (e-waste). Additionally, products must be designed for durability, repairability, and recyclability to minimize waste generation.
Batteries Regulation (which entered into force 17 August 2023) imposes EPR obligations on manufacturers and importers of batteries, ensuring they take responsibility for end-of-life battery collection and recycling.
The European Union is leading the way in implementing EPR for textiles as part of its EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. The revised EU Waste Framework Directive entered into force on 16 October 2025 and establishes a common framework for mandatory EPR schemes covering textiles, textile-related products and footwear.
EU Member States are required to establish these schemes by 17 April 2028, although some countries already operate textile EPR systems.
The framework makes producers placing qualifying textile and footwear products on EU markets contribute towards the costs of managing those products when they become waste. The aim is to reduce textile waste, promote circularity, and encourage sustainable practices within the fashion and textile industries.
While both the UK and EU EPR regulations aim to shift financial responsibility onto producers, there are key differences:
Scope and Fees: The UK's packaging EPR scheme operates across the four UK nations, with waste disposal fees adjusted according to packaging recyclability from 2026–27. In the EU, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) applies across all Member States, but national EPR schemes continue to have different fee structures and compliance arrangements.
Reporting Obligations: EPR schemes continue to have different fee structures and compliance arrangements. Businesses selling products across multiple EU markets must comply with each country’s specific reporting and registration requirements, which can vary significantly. Although the PPWR introduces greater harmonisation, national requirements remain important.
Obligations for Online Retailers: Both the UK and EU have EPR requirements affecting online retailers and marketplaces. In the UK, responsibility can fall on brand owners, importers, online marketplace operators and other qualifying businesses. Under the EU's PPWR, online platforms also have responsibilities relating to checking producers' EPR registration and compliance, with relevant requirements being introduced in stages.
Textile EPR: The EU has also adopted legislation requiring Member States to establish EPR schemes for textiles and footwear by April 2028. These will introduce additional obligations for fashion and textile businesses selling into EU markets, separate from packaging EPR.
If your business sells packaged goods in the EU, you must ensure compliance with EPR requirements in each country where your products are placed on the market. This may include:
For UK fashion and textile businesses, it's important to remember that packaging EPR and textile EPR are separate obligations.
Under the EU's revised Waste Framework Directive, Member States must establish textile EPR schemes by April 2028, although some countries already have schemes in place.
Failure to comply with EU EPR regulations can lead to penalties, sales restrictions, and reputational risks. Therefore, UK businesses operating in the EU should take proactive steps to understand their obligations and implement compliance strategies.
EPR means businesses have to collect more complex packaging data and adhere to more complex reporting requirements.
Having the right data management systems in place can make a significant difference. By centralising packaging information, automating data collection where possible and improving data accuracy, businesses can simplify EPR reporting, reduce administrative work and identify opportunities to manage compliance costs.
Segura can help businesses streamline packaging data management, giving them greater visibility across their supply chains and supporting more efficient EPR compliance processes.
With reliable data and the right systems in place, ongoing EPR reporting can become a more manageable part of everyday business operations.
Data Collection
Through Segura’s order management module retailers can identify and track packaging orders, facilitate real-time orders through nominated suppliers and capture the necessary data such as packaging weight, material, type and class.
Reporting
Segura’s business intelligence tool helps businesses organise, manage and export packaging data, making it easier to prepare the information needed for EPR reporting.
Download our UK EPR Factsheet.
We have outlined the key elements of the regulation with a recommended roadmap to compliance in one handy document.
Download our free UK EPR Factsheet for an overview of the key requirements and a practical roadmap to help your business manage EPR compliance.
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