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PackUK spoke about the launch of its updated pEPR laws at Packaging Innovations 2025, with a series of busy talks including representatives from each of the four UK nations
Packaging Innovations & Empack hosted what it labelled as “one of the most consequential events in the recent history of the packaging industry” as PackUK, the UK’s administrator for its extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR) scheme, presented its vision for UK recycling live at the trade show.
Packaging Innovations’ conference zone marked the first time PackUK publicly addressed the industry since its official launch at the end of January. The administrator was launched by the Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Defra) to deliver on behalf of all four UK nations.
The new scheme administrator aims to shift the cost of managing household packaging waste from taxpayers and local authorities to businesses who use and supply the packaging, applying what PackUK labels as the ‘polluter pays’ principle.
Alongside the pEPR scheme, the government’s packaging reforms also consist of its Simpler Recycling scheme and a Deposit Return scheme for drinks containers.
Defra has estimated that alongside these schemes, pEPR will stimulate an additional £10bn of investment in UK recycling services in ten years as well as supporting up to 21,000 new jobs.
There was a sizeable turnout at the PackUK talks at Packaging Innovations, with the seating completely filled and many people standing. Speaking at the event, Sebastian Munden, chair of the EPR scheme administrator, said: “This is an important milestone in the UK’s commitment to modernise packaging, waste management, and eliminate the idea of waste as we transition to a circular economy.
Munden was joined on the panel by civil servants from environmental departments from the four UK nations. These were Shane Doris, director of Environmental Resources Policy Division at Defra, Northern Ireland; David McPhee, deputy director of Circular Economy Division at the Scottish Government; and Rhodri Asby, deputy director for Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy in the Welsh Government.
Speaking at the event, Doris said: “It has been a Herculean effort involving politicians, officials, packaging industry representatives, and other stakeholders from across the UK. I can think of no better event to launch PackUK, and I look forward to healthy discussions with the many value chain professionals attending.”
Emma Bourne OBE, director of Defra, also attended and spoke on the panel about the economic benefits of the scheme, saying: “The modelling suggests that collectively, these reforms can stimulate around £10bn worth of investment in the UK’s recycling infrastructure over the next ten years, and create around 21,000 additional jobs across the sector.
“That’s an important investment in the future, but also in our security and resource resilience. We exist in turbulent times internationally, so having greater confidence in maximising the value and security of our materials domestically is a really important part of that overall security picture.”
Speaking after the event, Dr Margaret Bates, head of the UK pEPR scheme administrator, says: “I would like to thank everyone who joined us at Packaging Innovations, which provided an invaluable opportunity for businesses to learn even more about our plans to modernise the UK’s approach to packaging.
“By being at the heart of the packaging sector, we are ensuring our accessibility to stakeholders and supporting them with their obligations, while keeping up to date with innovations in this dynamic and exciting sector.”
Packaging Innovations 2025 included a range of new releases and updates in the packaging sector, with the new pEPR rules being a key focus. The event featured over 450 exhibitors as well as more than 70 expert speakers across three stages.
