Biffa has released a guide to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to help any UK businesses handling packaging.
The guide aims to equip businesses that, despite best intentions, are confused over where to start or how to progress to meet new obligations for packaging waste.
As part of EPR, businesses must report their data from 2023 before fees are introduced in October 2025. Obligations differ depending on business size, but those with an annual turnover below £1 million and handling less than 25 tonnes of packaging are exempt.
Biffa says EPR could facilitate a wider transition towards a carbon-based hierarchy for waste management in a domestic supply chain, which it says is an essential step in creating a more sustainable future.
Roger Wright, Waste Strategy and Packaging Manager and Charlotte Scallon, Head of Sustainability and Regulation, Biffa, commented: “EPR is an important first step to understanding what packaging is flowing through Britain and what happens to it.
The modulated fees will be introduced to drive circular or more recyclable packaging choices.
“The modulated fees will be introduced to drive circular or more recyclable packaging choices which will lead to less-single use and more recyclability; however recycling is not the whole story.”
“A practical guide to Extended Producer Responsibility: what businesses need to do and why it’s important” by Biffa outlines who is responsible, the timeline (with deadlines) and how to prepare for the scheme. This is underpinned by insight from business waste experts at Biffa on how EPR will impact important areas like packaging design, recycling and the UK’s wider sustainability strategy.
The guide holistically assesses challenges like the prevalence of single-use plastic and unrecyclable packaging. The first step in the guide is education. Biffa aims to provide clear information to facilitate businesses’ short-term compliance and long-term strategic development that helps realise a circular future for packaging.
Michael Topham, CEO of Biffa, commented: “EPR provides a legislative bedrock to inspire confidence and further investment in the development of British industries.
EPR provides a legislative bedrock to inspire confidence and further investment in the development of British industries.
“This commitment from the UK government and industries to sustainable legislation will play a vital role in growing our infrastructure, boosting domestic supply chains and recycling capabilities to a level where we can realise a truly circular economy in the UK.
“Biffa operates at the heart of the UK’s circular economy. We physically handle the packaging materials the UK no longer needs and can see first-hand the impact of sustainability legislation. Britain needs to recycle more and to do this, more packaging needs to be recyclable. EPR will help us to achieve this.”