The FPA Friday Digest

FPA sets out five priorities for the new government

The FPA has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle, setting out five priorities the association believes will help strengthen UK manufacturing while delivering a practical, evidence-led transition to a circular economy.

In an open letter published this week, the FPA congratulates the Prime Minister on his appointment and offers to work closely with ministers to ensure packaging policy supports both environmental ambitions and economic growth.

Representing more than 130 manufacturers and distributors with a combined economic footprint of more than £27 billion, the FPA argues that the foodservice packaging sector is well placed to contribute to government's objectives for investment, industrial renewal and improved recycling.

The five priorities are:

• Refine Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) by strengthening confidence, transparency and fairness through evidence-based improvements to producer registration, enforcement and fee modelling.
• Put evidence at the centre of environmental policy, ensuring future decisions are based on robust lifecycle assessment and whole-system environmental outcomes rather than assumptions about individual materials.
• Provide certainty for investment by delivering clear implementation plans, consistent guidance and long-term policy stability following an unprecedented period of regulatory change.
• Champion British manufacturing by supporting investment, competitiveness and innovation while avoiding unintended consequences that disadvantage responsible UK businesses.
• Continue working with industry, building on the increasingly constructive engagement established with Defra, PackUK and the Environment Agency.

FPA CEO Ellen Daniels says the association is keen to see the new government succeed and regulation that is practical, evidence-led and provides businesses with the confidence to invest. She adds that the FPA is looking forward to working with ministers to build a packaging system that delivers better environmental outcomes while supporting British manufacturing, jobs and economic growth.

The full open letter will shortly be available to view on the FPA website.

Flexible plastics delay exposes implementation gap in packaging reforms

Industry reaction has continued to gather pace following Defra's decision to postpone mandatory kerbside collections of flexible plastic packaging in England until April 2030, highlighting growing concerns over how the UK's packaging reforms will be delivered in practice.

The governments of Wales and Scotland have reaffirmed their commitment to introducing mandatory household collections of flexible plastic packaging from 2027, demonstrating that progress remains achievable, despite Defra's decision to postpone England's rollout.

While many local authorities have welcomed the additional time to develop collection and sorting infrastructure, producers, compliance schemes and recyclers warn that the decision risks undermining confidence in the wider reforms. Ecosurety said postponing collections weakens the business case for investment in domestic recycling infrastructure, while businesses have questioned how producer fees collected through pEPR will translate into improved recycling services if one of the most significant new material streams is deferred.

Businesses have invested significant time and resources in preparing for the published implementation timetable, including expanding take-back schemes and developing new packaging solutions. For many producers, the concern is not simply the delay itself, but the uncertainty it creates over future implementation and investment decisions.

FPA comment: "Industry has worked to the timetable set by government and invested accordingly. Businesses have invested significant time and resources in preparing, including expanding take-back schemes and developing new packaging solutions.

"While local authorities have been given additional time, producers continue to face significant obligations under pEPR, with little flexibility where genuine implementation issues have been raised – including concerns around de minimis thresholds and dual-use packaging.

"Businesses need confidence that agreed timetables will be honoured, or that where changes are unavoidable they are accompanied by the same willingness to address long-standing concerns raised by industry. If investment decisions are to support the UK's circular economy ambitions, policy must be delivered consistently and provide the certainty needed for long-term planning".

Ministerial changes leave circular economy brief awaiting new lead 

Government's reshuffle has brought significant changes at Defra, with Dame Angela Eagle appointed as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Meanwhile, Mary Creagh has confirmed she is leaving government, creating a vacancy in the ministerial portfolio responsible for overseeing the circular economy agenda, including pEPR, Simpler Recycling and wider packaging policy.

At the time of writing, government has yet to announce who will assume responsibility for the circular economy brief.

FPA comment: "With major reforms including pEPR, Simpler Recycling and the Circular Economy Strategy now moving from policy development into delivery, early engagement between government and industry will be essential. The FPA will continue to engage in regular dialogue with the relevant government departments to represent the sector's views on this topic. Businesses will be looking for continuity of purpose, clear ministerial leadership and a continued commitment to evidence-based policymaking that supports investment, innovation and environmental outcomes".

Industry urges continuity as new government takes office

The appointment of Dame Angela Eagle as Environment Secretary has prompted a largely pragmatic response from industry, with businesses and trade bodies welcoming the opportunity to engage with the new minister while urging government to maintain momentum on key reforms rather than revisit existing commitments.

Within the waste and resources sector, attention has focused on whether the change in ministerial leadership could delay publication of the long-awaited Circular Economy Growth Plan, amid reports that legal environmental targets will be missed if it is delayed further. Some industry figures have expressed concern that the programme may lose momentum as the new administration establishes its priorities, although no formal changes to government's packaging reform timetable have been announced.

Trade associations have struck a constructive tone, congratulating Dame Angela on her return to Defra and highlighting the importance of maintaining close engagement with industry. The emphasis has been less on seeking new policy and more on ensuring existing reforms – including pEPR, Simpler Recycling and wider circular economy measures – are delivered with greater certainty and consistency.

Defra restates pEPR cost assumptions

Defra restated the headline cost assumptions from the 2024 final impact assessment for packaging EPR, following a written question from Wendy Morton MP on the scheme’s impact on household costs, food price inflation and business costs.

Mary Creagh said the final impact assessment estimated pEPR could result in a one-off increase in CPI inflation of 0.07 percentage points, equivalent to an increase in average weekly household expenditure of 91p. She also said the assessment estimated pEPR costs at less than 1% of turnover for the average producer.

However, Defra confirmed the assessment did not provide a separate estimate for food price inflation. The answer also did not provide a specific breakdown of costs for SMEs above threshold, larger producers, food manufacturers, retailers or packaging businesses.

The response reinforces a continuing concern for the sector – many of the most commercially significant cost questions are still being answered at broad scheme level rather than by sector, material, format or product category.

EXPRA calls for focus on effective EPR implementation 

Producer responsibility alliance EXPRA has urged European policymakers to focus on the consistent implementation of existing EPR legislation rather than introducing further layers of regulation.

The organisation argues that well-designed, transparent and consistently applied EPR systems are more likely to improve recycling performance than continual legislative change, adding its voice to the wider European debate on how best to deliver the objectives of the Circular Economy Act.

Retailers warn DRS pricing roles could confuse shoppers 

Supermarkets have called on government to simplify pricing requirements ahead of the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), warning current regulations could leave shoppers facing multiple prices on shelf-edge labels for in-scope drinks.

According to The Grocer, retailers may be required to display the product price, the refundable deposit, the combined price and unit pricing simultaneously, with further complexity where loyalty promotions apply. The British Retail Consortium has urged ministers to amend the rules, arguing that the current approach risks confusing consumers and creating unnecessary operational burdens for retailers.

Welsh Government moves closer to appointing DRS operator while standing firm on glass

The Welsh Government says it is "optimistic" that a Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) for its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will be appointed "in short order", marking an important step towards the planned October 2027 launch.

Speaking in the Senedd, Environment Secretary Llyr Gruffydd described the appointment as a "critical milestone", with industry widely expecting Exchange for Change – already appointed to operate the DRS in England and Northern Ireland – to be selected for the Welsh scheme.

However, ministers have also reaffirmed their commitment to retaining glass within the Welsh DRS, despite continued opposition from much of the drinks, retail and hospitality sectors. Gruffydd argued that reopening the debate would create further uncertainty and delay implementation, adding that Wales remained committed to building a system that prioritises reuse alongside high recycling performance.

Industry bodies continue to disagree. The Wine & Spirit Trade Association warned that time is running short to finalise a workable scheme and repeated concerns that including glass could increase costs, reduce consumer choice and create operational challenges for businesses trading across UK borders.

Paperisation gathers pace – but challenges remain

The shift from plastic to fibre-based packaging continues to accelerate as businesses respond to changing regulation and consumer expectations, but a new Reuters analysis suggests the transition is proving more complex than simply substituting one material for another.

The feature highlights how forthcoming EU legislation, including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), is encouraging greater use of fibre-based packaging. However, it also notes that many paper-based formats continue to rely on plastic barrier coatings, while increasing demand for virgin fibre raises wider questions around sustainable forestry and future compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation.

FPA comment: "There is no single 'best' packaging material. The right solution depends on the application, lifecycle impacts and the recycling systems available. As packaging regulation evolves, policy should continue to encourage innovation and evidence-based material selection rather than assuming one material will always outperform another".

US food businesses face growing EPR reporting expectations

Commercial Baking has published a practical overview of what US bakers need to know as EPR regulations take effect, including the need to report packaging components that reach consumers, such as bread bags and closures.

While US schemes differ from the UK model, the direction of travel is familiar: more detailed packaging data, clearer accountability and greater producer responsibility across the supply chain.

UK

Packaging News: New Amcor RecyClass certification supports Plastic Packaging Tax compliance. Read more here

The Caterer: Foodservice Cateys 2026 shortlist revealed. Read more here

Sustainable Packaging News: Reading College installs TrovrQUBE in UK first for educational DRS recycling. Read more here

Catering Insight: UKHospitality calls for urgent VAT and business rates reform. Read more here

EUROPE

New Food Magazine: Specright launches automated PPWR compliance reporting tool for food and beverage businesses. Read more here

FreshPlaza: Fresh produce sector prepares for Europe’s PPWR packaging regulations. Read more here

INTERNATIONAL