EPR means that if you produce, import, or sell packaging, you’re responsible for ensuring it gets collected, recycled, or disposed of properly — and for reporting on it and paying towards that cost.

In more detail:

• Who does it apply to?
  Businesses that place packaged goods on the market — manufacturers, importers, brand owners, and sometimes retailers (especially if own-brand).
• What are producers responsible for?
  1. Reporting how much packaging they put into the market
  2. Paying fees to cover the cost of collection, recycling, and disposal
  3. Meeting recycling/recovery targets
  4. Labelling requirements (coming soon in some regions)
• Why is it being introduced or tightened?
  To shift the cost and burden of waste management away from the taxpayer and onto those profiting from the packaging, and to encourage eco-friendly packaging choices.
• What kind of packaging is included?
  Cardboard, plastic, glass, metal, wood – anything used to package a product for sale or shipment.

🔹 Small Producer

• Turnover: Between £1 million and £2 million
• Packaging handled: 25 to 50 tonnes per year
• Obligations:
  • Register via the environmental regulator or a compliance scheme
  • Submit packaging data (but no fees for waste management or recycling yet)
  • Mainly data reporting duties – light-touch regulation

🔹 Large Producer (Registered)

• Turnover: Over £2 million
• Packaging handled: More than 50 tonnes per year
• Obligations:
  • Must register and report detailed packaging data
  • Must pay waste management fees (starting in 2025 for most)
  • Must comply with full EPR responsibilities: data, eco-modulation (fees based on recyclability), recycling labels (coming soon), etc.

🔹 Brand Owners

• You're considered a Brand Owner if:
  • You manufacture or import products that have your brand on them, or
  • Someone else applies your brand under your instruction or authorisation
• Brand owners are usually the ones responsible for reporting and paying for the consumer-facing packaging (e.g. boxes, wrappers, labels, etc.)

🔹 Charities

• Charitable organisations are generally exempt from EPR obligations — unless they operate a separate trading arm that meets the turnover and packaging thresholds (like a retail or resale business).
• If the trading arm is limited and meets the thresholds, it may be treated like any other business under EPR.