EPR packaging stands for Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, a UK regulatory framework that makes certain businesses responsible for reporting packaging data and contributing towards the costs of managing packaging waste. The rules can apply to businesses that sell packaged goods, import packaging, pack products, supply empty packaging or carry out other specified packaging activities. Whether a business must register, report data or pay fees depends on its activities, turnover, packaging weight and producer category.
For UK businesses, EPR packaging is more than a recycling issue. It can influence packaging procurement, product costs, record-keeping and the materials chosen for boxes, labels, protective inserts and shipping cartons.
This guide explains how EPR works, who needs to comply and how businesses can work with packaging suppliers such as Sky Custom Box to obtain the information needed for better packaging decisions.
What Does EPR Mean in Packaging?
EPR means Extended Producer Responsibility, a system that places certain responsibilities for packaging waste on businesses that supply or import packaging and packaged products.
Traditionally, the costs of collecting and managing household packaging waste have largely been met through public funding and local authority budgets. The UK packaging EPR scheme shifts a greater share of relevant waste-management costs towards obligated packaging producers.
What is the purpose of EPR packaging?
The scheme aims to:
- Make businesses more accountable for packaging waste.
- Help fund household packaging waste collection and management.
- Encourage packaging designs that are easier to recycle.
- Improve the information available about packaging placed on the UK market.
- Support the transition towards a more circular economy.
The scheme is administered by PackUK, with environmental regulators responsible for relevant registration, reporting and compliance functions.
Source: GOV.UK — Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging.
Why does EPR matter to businesses?
EPR can affect the total cost of selling a product, especially when a business uses large quantities of packaging.
For example, a cosmetics brand selling products in printed cartons, plastic components and outer delivery boxes may need to understand which packaging materials it supplies, how much they weigh and which organisation is responsible for reporting them.
Practical insight: Packaging specifications are not only for production. Accurate material descriptions and weights can also support environmental reporting and purchasing decisions.
Which UK Businesses Must Comply With EPR Packaging Rules?
Businesses must assess their packaging activities, UK establishment status, annual turnover and packaging tonnage to determine whether they have EPR obligations.
The rules do not apply identically to every business that purchases packaging. Some businesses may qualify as small producers, others as large producers, and others may fall outside the obligated-producer thresholds.
What counts as a packaging producer?
Under the UK scheme, relevant activities can include:
- Supplying filled packaging under your own brand.
- Packing goods or filling packaging.
- Importing packaged goods into the UK.
- Manufacturing or importing and supplying empty packaging.
- Hiring or loaning reusable packaging.
- Operating a qualifying online marketplace.
- Selling filled packaging to an end user.
The responsible organisation depends on the activity and circumstances. For example, a retailer selling products under its own brand may have different responsibilities from a business that simply purchases packaging for use in a supply chain where another party is the obligated producer.
What are the current UK EPR thresholds?
For the 2026 reporting year, businesses generally assess packaging supplied or imported during the 2025 calendar year, using the turnover information specified in the official guidance.
The following table summarises the current thresholds published by GOV.UK.
| Annual worldwide turnover | Packaging weight | General position |
|---|---|---|
| £1 million or less | Any amount | Not obligated under these producer thresholds |
| More than £1 million up to £2 million | 25 tonnes or less | Not obligated under these thresholds |
| More than £1 million up to £2 million | More than 25 tonnes | Small producer |
| More than £2 million | More than 25 tonnes up to 50 tonnes | Small producer |
| More than £2 million | More than 50 tonnes | Large producer |
These thresholds are a summary, not a substitute for checking the full rules. Group-company arrangements, specific packaging activities, exemptions and the definition of packaging supplied or imported can affect the result.
Source: GOV.UK — Check if you must comply with EPR for packaging.
Does every small business need to pay EPR fees?
No. A business below the applicable obligated-producer thresholds does not automatically have to pay EPR fees simply because it uses cardboard boxes or printed packaging.
However, qualifying small producers can still have registration and annual reporting requirements. Businesses should check their position using the official guidance rather than assuming that a small workforce or low number of orders means they are exempt.
Why this matters: A growing online shop should review its packaging position as turnover and packaging volumes increase.
What Types of Packaging Are Covered by EPR?
EPR can cover packaging used to contain, protect, handle, deliver or present goods, including primary packaging, secondary packaging and transport packaging.
Packaging is not limited to the box customers see when they open an order. Depending on its purpose and how it enters the supply chain, several components may need to be considered.
Examples of packaging materials
| Packaging type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Paper and card | Folding cartons, cardboard boxes, paper bags and sleeves |
| Plastic | Flexible bags, films, trays and protective components |
| Glass | Bottles and jars |
| Metal | Aluminium and steel packaging |
| Wood | Wooden crates and pallets |
| Composite materials | Certain laminated or multi-material packaging |
The precise reporting classification depends on the material composition and applicable reporting rules.
Are custom printed boxes included?
Custom printed boxes can fall within the EPR packaging framework when they meet the regulatory definition and are supplied or imported through an in-scope activity.
For example, a business selling candles in printed cartons may need to consider the retail box and other relevant packaging, such as protective inserts and shipping packaging.
A packaging supplier can help identify the materials and weights used in an order, but buying packaging does not by itself establish who is legally responsible for reporting it.
Practical insight: Keep material information for each packaging component instead of recording an entire product package under a vague description such as “custom box.”
What Are the Main EPR Packaging Obligations?
Obligated businesses must meet the registration, reporting, fee-payment and record-keeping requirements applicable to their producer category.
The obligations differ between small and large producers, so businesses should first establish their classification.
What must small producers do?
Small producers generally need to:
- Register with the relevant environmental regulator.
- Collect and report the required packaging data annually.
- Retain the records required by the regulations.
Small producers should check the current reporting instructions for their category because the information requested depends on the packaging activities they carry out.
What must large producers do?
Large producers have additional obligations, which generally include:
- Register annually with the relevant environmental regulator.
- Report packaging data every six months.
- Meet applicable packaging waste recycling obligations through PRNs, PERNs or other permitted arrangements.
- Submit the required certificate of compliance.
- Pay applicable household packaging waste disposal fees to PackUK.
- Keep the required records for seven years.
The exact process depends on the applicable regulations and reporting year.
Source: GOV.UK — EPR packaging compliance guidance.
What information should businesses collect?
A practical packaging data record may include:
- Packaging material and material category.
- Weight of each packaging component.
- Number of units supplied or imported.
- Packaging activity and relevant business relationship.
- Whether packaging is household or non-household packaging.
- Whether it is commonly disposed of in public bins or littered, where relevant.
- Packaging type and recyclability information required by the reporting rules.
Not every field applies to every producer or packaging component.
Why this matters: Reliable records make reporting easier and reduce the risk of using unsupported estimates when actual packaging data is available.
How Much Does EPR Packaging Cost in the UK?
EPR costs depend on a business’s obligations, the amount and type of packaging involved, and the applicable fees and compliance costs. There is no single EPR charge for every UK business.
Costs may include packaging waste disposal fees, registration charges, compliance-scheme services and costs associated with meeting recycling obligations.
What were the published 2025–2026 base fees?
The government’s published base fees for the first scheme year included the following rates for household packaging waste disposal fees.
| Packaging material | 2025–2026 base fee per tonne |
|---|---|
| Aluminium | £266 |
| Fibre-based composite | £461 |
| Glass | £192 |
| Paper and card | £196 |
| Plastic | £423 |
| Steel | £259 |
| Wood | £280 |
| Other materials | £259 |
These are historical base fees for 2025–2026, not a current quotation or the final fee applicable to every material in 2026–2027. They do not include every possible registration or recycling-compliance cost.
Source: GOV.UK — EPR packaging 2025 base fees.
How are EPR fees changing?
From the 2026–2027 financial year, household packaging waste disposal fees are being modulated according to recyclability assessments under the Recyclability Assessment Methodology.
In general, in-scope packaging receives a red, amber or green rating. Red-rated packaging attracts a higher disposal-fee element, while green-rated packaging receives a lower one; amber-rated packaging remains at the base rate for this modulation approach.
The published modulation factors for red-rated packaging are 1.2 for 2026–2027, 1.6 for 2027–2028 and 2.0 for 2028–2029.
Source: PackUK — EPR packaging fee modulation policy.
These factors apply to the relevant household packaging waste disposal fee element, not automatically to a business’s entire packaging bill.
Practical insight: Do not assume that replacing plastic with paper will always lower costs. The full packaging design, material classification, recyclability assessment and product-protection requirements all matter.
How Can Businesses Make Packaging More EPR-Friendly?
Businesses can improve their packaging decisions by understanding material composition, reducing unnecessary material, designing for practical recycling and maintaining accurate packaging data.
There is no universal material that is best for every product. A good packaging choice balances recyclability, product protection, manufacturing requirements, transport efficiency and total cost.
1. Choose suitable, recyclable materials
Where appropriate, consider paperboard or corrugated packaging that can enter established recycling streams. Check whether coatings, laminations, adhesives or attached components affect the classification or recyclability of the complete package.
2. Reduce unnecessary packaging
Review box dimensions and remove excess material where possible without compromising product protection.
Smaller packaging may also reduce storage and transport requirements, depending on the product and distribution method.
3. Avoid unnecessary material complexity
Packaging that combines several inseparable materials can be harder to sort and recycle. Where product requirements permit, consider whether a simpler construction could achieve the same result.
4. Keep material and weight specifications
Ask your packaging supplier for useful information about:
- Board or substrate type.
- Material composition.
- Component weights.
- Coatings and laminations.
- Inserts and protective elements.
- Recycled content claims, where documented.
- Available recyclability information.
These details can support your own records and help assess alternative packaging designs.
5. Check the complete package
A cardboard outer box may contain plastic inserts, foam protection, labels or other components. Assess the relevant components rather than assuming the outer material determines the entire package’s classification.
Expert insight: Packaging design should begin with the product’s real protection requirements. A recyclable box that causes frequent product damage may create other environmental and financial costs.
How Can Sky Custom Box Help Businesses With EPR Packaging Decisions?
Sky Custom Box can be a useful packaging supplier to consult about box materials, printed packaging specifications, and component weights when a business is reviewing its packaging. The buyer should confirm which data the supplier can provide for the particular product.
Businesses ordering custom packaging need more than a design and a unit price. Clear specifications can support procurement, stock management and packaging compliance records.
What should you request from your packaging supplier?
When requesting a quotation, ask for:
- The exact material used for the box.
- Board type and thickness or grammage, where relevant.
- The weight of one finished packaging unit.
- Details of any inserts, coatings or laminations.
- The material composition of separate components.
- Any available evidence supporting recyclability or recycled-content claims.
- Confirmation of whether the quoted weight covers the box alone or the complete packaging assembly.
Not all suppliers will have every item readily available, and any environmental claim should be supported by appropriate evidence.
Does buying packaging from Sky Custom Box transfer EPR responsibility?
No. Ordering packaging from Sky Custom Box does not automatically transfer a buyer’s legal obligations to the supplier.
Responsibility depends on the activities each organisation performs and the applicable regulations. A brand owner, importer, packer or retailer may have obligations even when another company manufactures the packaging.
For businesses planning custom printed boxes, rigid boxes or other branded packaging, discussing material specifications early can make it easier to compare designs and maintain accurate records.
Explore the relevant custom packaging options at Sky Custom Box and request a quotation based on your product, dimensions, materials and intended quantity.
How Can a Business Check Its EPR Packaging Compliance?
Start by identifying your packaging activities, calculating the relevant packaging weight and turnover, and following the official guidance for your producer category.
Use this checklist as a starting point.
- Identify your activities. Do you import, pack, brand, sell or supply packaging?
- Check your business structure. Determine whether group-company rules apply.
- Calculate packaging weight. Gather data for the relevant reporting period and avoid counting the same packaging twice.
- Check turnover. Use the accounts and reporting-year rules specified in official guidance.
- Determine your category. Establish whether you are not obligated, a small producer or a large producer.
- Register where required. Use the relevant official registration process.
- Report the required data. Follow the frequency and data rules for your category.
- Review fees and recycling obligations. Check the requirements applicable to the reporting year.
- Retain records. Keep supporting documents and packaging specifications.
- Review packaging design. Consider whether improvements could support recycling and reduce unnecessary material.
Where can businesses find official guidance?
Start with these government resources:
These resources should be checked before making compliance decisions because requirements and guidance can change.
Frequently Asked Questions About EPR Packaging
1. What is EPR packaging in simple terms?
EPR packaging is a UK scheme that makes certain businesses responsible for reporting packaging data and contributing towards relevant packaging waste-management costs. The specific obligations depend on the business’s activities, turnover, packaging weight and producer category.
2. Does EPR packaging apply to small businesses in the UK?
Some small businesses fall below the obligated-producer thresholds, while others qualify as small producers and have registration and reporting duties. Businesses should check the current official thresholds rather than assume that their size automatically exempts them.
3. Who pays EPR packaging fees?
Obligated producers pay the fees and meet the compliance obligations that apply to their category. The legally responsible business depends on the packaging activities and supply-chain circumstances, not simply on which company printed or manufactured the box.
4. Are cardboard boxes included in EPR packaging?
Cardboard boxes can be included when they meet the regulatory definition of packaging and are supplied or imported through an in-scope activity. Businesses should record relevant material weights and classify packaging according to the official reporting guidance.
5. Does recyclable packaging reduce EPR fees?
Recyclability can affect the household packaging waste disposal fee under the UK’s fee-modulation framework from 2026–2027. The effect depends on the applicable assessment, material category and fee rules; recyclable packaging does not automatically eliminate every EPR cost.
6. How can I find out whether my business needs to register for EPR?
Review your packaging activities, UK establishment status, annual worldwide turnover, packaging weight and any group-company arrangements. Then use the official GOV.UK compliance checker and guidance to establish your registration and reporting requirements.
Conclusion: Understand EPR Before Choosing Your Packaging
EPR packaging is a significant part of UK packaging compliance, placing reporting and financial responsibilities on businesses that meet the relevant criteria. Understanding the rules, keeping accurate material records and considering recyclability when choosing packaging can help businesses make better-informed purchasing decisions.
For custom printed packaging, speak to Sky Custom Box about material options, box specifications and available packaging data. Visit skycustombox.com to discuss your packaging requirements and request a tailored quotation.
