Is pEPR creating more packaging waste than it prevents?

The UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme is intended to encourage businesses to reduce packaging waste. However, new research suggests that compliance requirements may be creating unexpected challenges across the supply chain.

A survey found that 47% of manufacturers and suppliers reported an increase in packaging waste following the introduction of pEPR.

The findings also highlight the operational impact of the scheme. Around 65% of businesses said pEPR had made pre-retail logistics more complex, while 70% reported increased repackaging requirements.

Packaging errors are another concern, with 37% of respondents reporting an increase. Meanwhile, 70% said complying with retailers’ packaging standards had become more time-consuming.

Businesses with an annual turnover of £2 million or more that supply or import over 50 tonnes of packaging are required to report pEPR data to the government. This information is used to calculate fees that help cover the costs of collecting, sorting, recycling and disposing of packaging waste.

Stuart Greenfield, UK and European sales director at Advanced Supply Chain, said the scheme was designed to encourage businesses to use less packaging, but the survey suggests it may be having the opposite effect for many organisations.

He added that retailers and suppliers, having spent years removing unnecessary packaging to reduce costs, save time and improve sustainability, are now revisiting those efforts as they adapt to EPR compliance.

The findings raise questions about how businesses can meet their regulatory obligations while continuing to reduce packaging waste and improve supply chain efficiency.