Important Updates to pEPR, PPT, PRNs and More

On 6 May, CTPA received a letter from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) detailing several significant updates concerning Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) and other circular economy initiatives. Notably, the UK Government plans to notify the European Union of upcoming amendments to the pEPR Regulations. These amendments are expected to be laid before Parliament in November 2025, with the intention of implementing changes ahead of the second year of the pEPR.

The letter addresses several key topics, including:

• Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO)
  • The amending regulations will facilitate the establishment of a PRO and the transfer of specific functions to this new organisation.
  • An expression of interest process is being launched to invite potential PRO candidates to register their interest and begin agreeing on the potential role of the PRO with the four governments of the UK.  The Expression of Interest Application can be downloaded here and a document outlining further details can be downloaded here. Completed applications should be submitted to [email protected] by 10 June 2025.
• Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT)
  • To support the use of and investment in advanced chemical recycling technologies, the government announced during the Autumn Budget 2024 that it would permit a mass balance approach for chemically recycled plastic for the purposes of the PPT. This change is planned to take effect from April 2027, following the legislative process in the Finance Bill 2025/26.
  • As of April 2027, pre-consumer waste will no longer qualify as a source of recycled plastic for PPT purposes.
• Reforming the Packaging Recycling Note (PRN) System
  • Throughout 2025, the government will engage with stakeholders to implement reforms to the PRN system, aiming to level the playing field between domestic re-processors and waste exporters. The objectives include market stabilisation, reduction of price volatility, and minimisation of plastic waste exports.

The full letter with details of these updates, as well as other important updates, can be downloaded here.