Frequently asked questions
Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy approach whereby a producer’s responsibility for packaging is extended to the post-use stage with the aims of:
- Reducing unnecessary packaging and increasing packaging reuse
- Incentivising the design, choice, and use of more sustainable packaging materials
- Reducing the amount of packaging sent to landfill and energy from waste
Large producers are legally required to report data on the packaging they supply into the UK market and cover the full net costs of the collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal of their packaging. From 2025 reporting, producers will also be required to report a Recyclability Assessment Methodology rating to their household packaging, which will inform fee modulation in support of a circular packaging economy.
To be obligated under the regulations as a large organisation, businesses must meet or exceed two thresholds:
- A turnover of more than £2 million, and;
- Responsible for over 50 tonnes of packaging in a calendar year, in relation to the EPR packaging activities.
Small producers are legally required to report data on the packaging they supply into the UK market, but do not have any recycling or disposal costs.
To be obligated under the regulations as a small organisation, businesses must meet either of the following thresholds:
- A turnover between £1-2 million, and responsible for over 25 tonnes of packaging in a calendar year, in relation to the EPR activities, or;
- A turnover above £2 million, and responsible for 25-50 tonnes of packaging in a calendar year, in relation to the EPR activities.
Obligated producers can choose to register with a compliance scheme like Beyondly, who will take on their full legal obligation, or register directly with the Environment Agency.
Producers will be required to submit bi-annual placed on market (PoM) data;
- 1st January–30th June data to be submitted between 1st July–1st October
- 1st July–31st December data to be submitted between 1st January–1st April (of the following year).
*The deadline for submitting nation data under the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging has been postponed until 2026.
Small organisations are required to submit their PoM data annually (data between 1st January–31st December data to be submitted between 1st January–1st April of the following year) and their nation data annually (data between 1st January 2024–31st December 2024, submitted by December 2025).
*Nation data reporting was introduced to facilitate the tracking of progress to meet packaging waste recycling targets in each UK nation. However, the deadline for submitting nation data under the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging has been postponed until 2026.
The data you gather will come from across your supply chain and needs to be brought together detailing all the packaging component data ready for submission.
Beyondly’s Data Management service can carry out the ‘data gathering’ process for your business, including PoM and nation data.
If you are a large producer under EPR, the data you report will have a direct impact on the fees you are required to pay. It is important that the data you report meets the regulatory requirement of ‘as accurate as reasonably possible’ to ensure that you are incurring the right fees.
How much EPR will cost you depends on the type (household/ non-household), material and volume of packaging you supply to the UK market. All packaging types you report will incur a PRN cost which funds the recycling packaging waste at end of life, whilst household and public bin packaging will also incur EPR disposal fees which fund the collection, sorting and treatment of packaging waste. PRN fees are market-driven, whilst EPR disposal fees are set by the EPR Scheme Administrator PackUK.
Beyondly members can stay informed about the latest updates in the PRN market from our Procurement Team through our dedicated PRN Centre. You can find the most recent EPR disposal fee rates here.
EPR is here to stay! Good quality data is key and unlocks the door to informed decision making. With good quality data and an understanding of expected future policy changes, you can effectively prioritise the right decisions for your business to mitigate the impacts of EPR now and ahead of time.
Beyondly’s policy influence and engagement in pEPR reform helps you stay on top of regulatory updates, and our consultancy services support your business in translating data into actionable insights and the right decisions for change.
