Producer Responsibility Organisation appointed for Packaging EPR Scheme
Today, 23 March 2026, UK Packaging PRO was appointed as the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for the UK’s packaging EPR scheme.
Originally created by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN), the PRO has been developed with input from more than 50 UK producers, retailers, and trade bodies. Its steering committee spans multiple sectors including food and beverage, healthcare, electricals, fast-moving consumers goods, and construction, with the aim of bringing a united industry voice to one of the UK’s most ambitious environmental reforms in a generation.
The UK’s packaging reforms, including packaging EPR, have already had a significant impact on industry. Two decades of reporting practices have been disrupted, and new costs and reporting criteria mean producers are reassessing their packaging portfolio and supply chain data with fresh eyes. With the first Notices of Liability (NoL) issued at the end of 2025, for 2024 packaging, and new requirements for recyclability assessments and modulated fees, producers who fall behind regulatory development and reporting changes risk facing financial and commercial disadvantages.
The past few years, however, have not been easy. Far from it! Delays, last minute changes, and communication and invoicing errors have left producers and their supply chain as reactive participants in the pEPR scheme, rather than receiving timely information needed to make meaningful improvements, reduce costs, and support a more circular economy.
To strengthen the role of business in delivering pEPR, PackUK (the Scheme Administrator) sought to increase industry involvement. The creation of a PRO is a core part of this co-design process, building a broad coalition across packaging producers, recyclers, and Local Authorities to ensure real-world operational needs are reflected, sector engagement is strengthened, and companies most affected have a clear voice.
The newly appointed PRO will, over the next few years, take on several significant functions that PackUK currently deliver.
The PRO will support (because they are advisory):
| Operational support and communications |
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| Producer fees |
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| Fee modulation |
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| RAM |
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| Local Authorities |
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| Public bins |
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| Other |
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The appointment of the PRO is an essential step toward a more circular economy for packaging, ensuring efficient fee collection and payment flows, improved recycling performance, and consistent delivery across the four UK nations.
It’s also important to note the functions that will not transfer to the PRO and will remain ‘sovereign’ functions of either PackUK or other government bodies.
- Changing the regulations
- Amending data reporting requirements
- Ownership of methodologies, e.g., PackUK will continue to own the RAM
- Sign off for any of the changes the PRO wishes or needs to make
- Enforcement of late payments and debt recovery of disposal fees
- Disposal cost appeals and complaints
- Publication of PackUK’s strategy and operational plans (though they will have input)
As a compliance scheme regulated under the packaging EPR (pEPR) regulations, Beyondly helps businesses meet their legal, environmental, and regulatory obligations. With 20 years of trusted expertise, we simplify packaging compliance and guide businesses through its complexities.
As an extension of your team, we champion our customers, providing practical solutions to help you achieve environmental confidence.
