The appointment of a Producer Responsibility Organisation adds an industry-led operational layer to the UK's packaging EPR scheme as it enters its second year and introduces eco-modulated fees.
An industry-led Producer Responsibility Organisation has been formally appointed to manage the operational delivery of the UK's packaging extended producer responsibility scheme from 1 April 2026.
UK Packaging PRO, a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, is backed by more than 100 organisations representing retailers, manufacturers, packaging producers, NGOs and waste management companies, which account for nearly half of all UK EPR fees. The consortium is led by the Food and Drink Federation and the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment, with the appointment confirmed today (23 March).
"Although it has been a long time to get here, this is only the very beginning of industry-led EPR in the UK," said Sebastian Munden, the PRO's chair and former chief executive of Unilever UK and Ireland. "A cost-conscious, data-driven, innovation-minded approach will be good for citizens, local authorities and producers, with benefits in standards of living and to the economy."
The PRO's remit covers the technical and operational side of the scheme: how packaging formats are assessed and how producers interact with the system day to day. It has no governance role. Fee-setting, notices of liability and local authority payments stay with PackUK, the scheme administrator established within Defra, which remains accountable to all four UK governments.
Jeremy Blake, PackUK chief executive, said the appointment followed "a rigorous selection process" and that the PRO would "further enhance the scheme by unlocking the benefits that an industry-led organisation can bring. I have full confidence that we have found that in UK Packaging PRO and look forward to working together with the PRO to achieve the shared goals of packaging producers and local authorities alike: higher recycling rates, lower costs and improved efficiency."
Scale and fees
The appointment coincides with pEPR entering its second assessment year. PackUK's 2026-27 operational plan forecasts disposal costs of £1.47 billion, up from £1.44 billion in Year 1, with a total fee recovery target of £1.558 billion across the four nations. England accounts for £1.169 billion of that total, Scotland £158 million, Wales £91 million and Northern Ireland £52 million.
Year 2 also marks the shift from flat base fees to the long-anticipated eco-modulated structure. The Year 1 flat rates - £423 per tonne for plastic, £192 for glass - give way to red-amber-green rated fees tied to recyclability. PackUK published illustrative Year 2 fees incorporating the recyclability assessment methodology in December 2025.
The PRO will develop and refine the recyclability assessment methodology that underpins those ratings, giving industry a direct hand in the criteria that determine what producers pay. Its board includes INCPEN chief executive Paul Vanston and PepsiCo UK sustainable packaging lead Gareth Callan. Karen Graley, appointed head of the PRO in March 2025 after roles at Safeway, Waitrose and Marks and Spencer, leads the operational mobilisation.
Data and compliance tightening
PackUK has also tightened data handling for Year 2. After 1 May 2026, it will not generally accept new data submissions for the current assessment year, and from 1 October 2026, downward resubmissions face restrictions. Recalculation of producer obligations will follow a structured schedule - July, November, and March-April - rather than running continuously as in Year 1.
These changes respond to instability in the first year's invoicing cycle, when late and revised data submissions from producers created operational friction. For compliance teams, the tighter windows mean packaging data reported for 2025 needs to be accurate before the May deadline, with limited scope to correct figures downward later in the year.
"EPR is a massive reform and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform food packaging and the UK's recycling system for the better," said Karen Betts, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation. "I'm confident that UK Packaging PRO will be a strong part of the new system from the get-go, led by industry and working collaboratively with other stakeholders to deliver better outcomes for the environment, businesses and consumers."
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.