The FPA Friday Digest
28 August 2026
This week’s Digest leads on mounting pressure in the plastic PRN market, where record prices and disruption following government-led changes to the system have prompted the four UK governments to consider possible intervention.
The issue goes beyond the immediate cost to producers. PRNs remain the mechanism through which producer funding supports recycling and reprocessing infrastructure, and with further reform of the system already under consideration, the FPA is calling for changes that deliver greater stability and transparency without weakening the investment signals needed to build UK recycling capacity.
Elsewhere in packaging reforms, the planned expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to waste incineration will no longer take place in 2028, although potentially significant future costs for fossil-derived packaging remain on the table. New HMRC figures also show further falls in both total and taxable plastic packaging declared under Plastic Packaging Tax, while the amount meeting the 30% recycled-content threshold also declined year-on-year – reinforcing the need for joined-up policy across PPT, pEPR and wider packaging regulation.
In Europe, pressure is growing for changes to PPWR as SMEs warn that cross-border compliance requirements risk pricing smaller businesses out of the Single Market, with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola now acknowledging concerns over disproportionate burdens. Internationally, Canada has opened anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into paperboard cups and food containers imported from China.
We also look at renewed pressure from hospitality for a VAT reduction, the government’s review of business rates for pubs and hotels, the challenge of scaling flexible-plastic collections ahead of 2030 and the latest developments from across packaging, recycling and foodservice.
And with the FPA Environment Seminar at Stationers’ Hall on 5 November drawing closer, members can also find details of sponsorship opportunities, starting from £250 + VAT, and offering a range of ways to put their company branding and messaging in front of delegates at one of the FPA’s key events of the year.
FINAL REMINDER: 1 September pEPR data deadline. Producers have until Monday 1 September to correct and resubmit 2025 packaging data if they want changes to be reflected in their 2026/27 disposal fees and Notices of Liability. Corrections submitted after that date will not alter those charges.
PACKAGING REFORMS UPDATE
Government considers intervention as plastic
PRN costs hit record levels
The four UK governments are considering intervention in the PRN market after plastic compliance costs soared to record levels following major changes to the system introduced this year.
The average plastic Packaging Recycling Note price for 2026 to July has reached approximately £378 per tonne, accordingto the letsrecycle.com price index, more than £100 above the previous highest annual average of £273 recorded in 2023. The Environment Exchange, which uses a different methodology, puts this year's average at around £356, with individual transactions reaching approximately £550 per tonne.
Latest reports suggest some manufacturers are facing increases of more than 150% in their overall PRN spend compared with last year, with plastic PRNs that might previously have cost around £150 per tonne now changing hands for £500-£550 or more.
The price escalation follows significant government-led reforms introduced from January. Reprocessors and exporters moved from quarterly to monthly reporting, while tighter accreditation and compliance requirements were introduced to improve transparency and reduce fraud and error.
The transition has proved difficult. A new digital service for issuing PRNs and PERNs, originally expected to be operational in January, did not go live until late February, meaning no new evidence was issued for at least the first six weeks of the year.
New rules also mean PERNs can only be issued once exported material has been received by the overseas reprocessor rather than at the point of export, potentially delaying the availability of evidence by up to 12 weeks.
Industry sources cited byThe Grocer say some major reprocessors have also been unable to issue PRNs while meeting the new accreditation requirements. The resulting incomplete picture of available evidence during the first half of the year subsequently indicated possible shortages not only for plastic but also steel and wood.
The four UK governments have acknowledged concern over the potential short-term effect of the reforms on PRN availability. In a joint statement to producers, they said the changes were already improving transparency and tackling fraud and error, but confirmed that mitigating action may be considered if evidence demonstrates a material risk to meeting 2026 producer recycling obligations.
One option proposed by industry experts is a temporary "carry-back" arrangement allowing eligible material reprocessed, or exported and received overseas, during January 2027 to count towards 2026 obligations. Supporters argue this could compensate in part for the delays now built into PERN issuance and help avoid a year-end evidence squeeze.
The immediate pressure comes as further reform of the PRN/PERN system is already under consideration. A government consultation on changes to the system closed in May, with the four governments' joint response due this autumn. Defra has also confirmed plans for a further consultation examining potentially wider changes to the recycling obligation and PRN/PERN system.
FPA comment: “Record plastic PRN prices are concerning in themselves, particularly where changes to administration, reporting and accreditation appear to have contributed to exceptional market pressure. Producers should not simply be expected to absorb additional costs created by transitional problems outside their control, so the willingness of the four governments to consider mitigation is welcome.
“But the wider issue is that PRNs are not simply another packaging compliance charge. They are the producer-funded mechanism through which recycling obligations are demonstrated and revenue is directed into recycling and reprocessing, helping support the infrastructure needed to meet those targets. This is distinct from pEPR, which primarily funds local authorities for managing household packaging waste.
“That distinction needs to remain front and centre as government considers further reform. Simplification is welcome where it removes unnecessary complexity, but any changes must preserve strong and dependable investment signals for recycling infrastructure.
“The current situation demonstrates why the PRN system needs greater stability, transparency and predictability. Any immediate intervention must come early enough to avoid a year-end compliance squeeze, while longer-term reform must ensure the system continues to support investment in the UK recycling capacity producers are being asked to help deliver”.
Taxable plastic packaging continues to fall under PPT
The amount of plastic packaging subject to the Plastic Packaging Tax has fallen to its lowest level since the tax was introduced, according to new HMRC figures.
In 2025/26, businesses declared 1.107 million tonnes of taxable plastic packaging, down from 1.194 million tonnes the previous year and 1.399 million tonnes when PPT was introduced in 2022/23. Taxable material now accounts for 37% of all plastic packaging declared, compared with 41% in the tax's first year.
Total plastic packaging declared also fell, from 3.138 million tonnes in 2024/25 to 2.970 million tonnes in 2025/26.
Interestingly, packaging declared as containing at least 30% recycled plastic also declined year-on-year, from 1.569 million tonnes to 1.506 million tonnes. It nevertheless accounted for 51% of total declared plastic packaging, and remains around 17% higher in tonnage terms than when PPT was introduced in 2022/23.
HMRC says total PPT revenue fell 4% to £250 million in 2025/26, despite an increase in the tax rate during the year. The decline reflects the continuing reduction in taxable tonnage.
The latest figures also show a marked difference between domestically manufactured and imported packaging. UK-manufactured plastic packaging declared under the system fell from around 1.75 million to 1.58 million tonnes, while imported tonnage remained broadly unchanged at around 1.39 million tonnes.
The figures point to a continuing reduction in packaging liable for PPT, but the simultaneous fall in both total packaging tonnage and packaging meeting the recycled-content threshold means they should be interpreted with care. They do not establish how much of the change is attributable to increased recycled-content use, reductions or changes in plastic packaging placed on the market, or other economic factors.
As at 13 August 2026, 5,142 businesses were registered for PPT.
FPA comment: “The continued fall in taxable tonnage is notable, but these latest figures also show that the amount of packaging declared as containing at least 30% recycled plastic fell during the year. That reinforces the need to look beyond individual headline figures when assessing the impact of PPT.
“As government considers the future development of PPT, it's vital that packaging policy is joined up. PPT, pEPR and its recyclability-based fee modulation, and emerging PPWR requirements can all influence material and design choices, and businesses should not face conflicting incentives or overlapping costs for trying to meet different policy objectives.
“Policy must continue to encourage genuine use of recycled material while recognising the technical, food-contact and supply constraints that can prevent some packaging applications from reaching recycled-content thresholds. Reliable certification and verification of recycled content will also be essential to ensure businesses that invest in recycled material can demonstrate compliance with confidence and that the system operates on a level playing field”.
UK ETS waste expansion delayed beyond 2028
Plans to bring waste incineration into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme from January 2028 have been formally postponed, giving councils, waste operators and packaging producers additional time to prepare for what could ultimately become another significant end-of-life cost.
The UK ETS Authority – comprising the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive – confirmed this week that the previously proposed 2028 start date will not go ahead. A replacement timetable and the final policy design will be published in due course, with the Authority acknowledging that continued uncertainty has been making it difficult for local authorities and industry to plan and budget.
The expansion has not been abandoned. The Authority says it wants to learn from the voluntary monitoring, reporting and verification period now under way before deciding how the sector will be exposed to costs.
For packaging producers, the issue is particularly significant because carbon costs associated with fossil-derived material sent to energy-from-waste facilities could ultimately feed into the costs of managing residual household packaging. Under pEPR, producers already fund the net efficient costs incurred by local authorities in collecting and managing household packaging waste, including residual treatment and disposal.
INCPEN has previously estimated the inclusion of waste within the ETS could add around £740 million to producer costs, on top of packaging EPR. The eventual figure will depend on the final scheme design, carbon prices and how costs are passed through.
As pEPR fees begin to be modulated through the Recyclability Assessment Methodology the policy challenge will be to ensure producers are incentivised for design choices within their control without being disproportionately charged for failures elsewhere in the collection and recycling system.
No replacement UK timetable has yet been decided. However, the European Commission has separately proposed introducing surrender obligations for municipal waste incineration into the EU ETS progressively between 2031 and 2034, raising the possibility of greater UK-EU alignment. Northern Ireland will in any event be subject to the EU ETS for energy-from-waste installations under the Windsor Framework.
FPA comment: “The removal of the 2028 deadline provides welcome breathing space, but it does not remove what could become another very substantial cost for packaging producers.
“The fundamental issue is where responsibility should sit. Producers can design packaging to be recyclable, but they cannot control household collection systems or whether 68 million consumers put that packaging into a recycling or residual waste bin. It would be difficult to justify penalising a producer through additional carbon costs where recyclable packaging is incinerated because the system has failed to capture it for recycling.
“As government develops the final ETS arrangements, it is essential the interaction with pEPR and RAM is fully understood and costs are not simply layered one on top of another. The additional time should be used to design a system that incentivises all parts of the waste chain to improve recycling performance, rather than transferring costs to producers for outcomes they cannot directly control”.
Pub sector renews warning over pEPR ‘double charging’
Concerns over the treatment of packaging used in hospitality under pEPR have resurfaced in the national media, with the British Beer and Pub Association warning that additional costs could ultimately feed through into higher prices for consumers.
The BBPA argues that pubs can effectively pay twice for the management of glass bottles: directly through their existing commercial waste and recycling contracts, and indirectly where pEPR fees paid by drinks suppliers are passed through the supply chain.
The issue arises from the rules governing whether primary packaging can be treated as household or non-household packaging. Government guidance makes clear that using a private commercial waste collection service does not by itself make packaging non-household. Producers must be able to demonstrate that the business receiving the product is the end user of the packaging or satisfy other specified conditions.
The underlying concern is not new – the hospitality sector has been raising it with government since before pEPR disposal fees were introduced – but its appearance in national consumer media demonstrates continuing concern about the way costs are being allocated.
FPA comment: “This remains a good example of why pEPR needs to reflect where packaging actually becomes waste and how that waste is managed. Businesses should not face costs intended to fund household waste management where packaging is demonstrably being captured and paid for through a separate commercial waste system. The FPA continues to believe that anomalies of this kind need to be addressed as part of the wider review and refinement of pEPR".
Modelling points to six-fold rise in flexible plastic collections from 2030
The volume of flexible plastics collected from English households could increase more than six-fold once mandatory kerbside collections are introduced in 2030, according to modelling undertaken by Valpak for the Local Government Association.
The analysis estimates that around 392,000 tonnes of flexible plastic currently enters the household waste stream each year, of which only around 15,000 tonnes (3.8%) is collected for recycling. Mandatory collections could increase that to approximately 96,000 tonnes, equivalent to a 540% rise.
The figures also underline the infrastructure challenge behind government's decision to delay mandatory collections from their previous 2027 timetable. Valpak estimates current UK flexible-plastic reprocessing capacity at around 139,000 tonnes and sorting capacity at 145,000 tonnes, although not all of that capacity is available for household material. A further 290,000 tonnes of capacity is planned but not guaranteed.
Collection and management costs across England could range from £82 million to £301 million a year, depending on collection methods, sorting arrangements and treatment routes. The research also estimates that around 14% of film found in household waste is not packaging and would therefore fall outside pEPR funding.
FPA comment: “The scale of the potential increase reinforces why the period to 2030 must be used to build the sorting and reprocessing infrastructure, quality standards and dependable end markets needed to deal with this material. Collection alone does not deliver circularity. Producers need confidence that when significantly more flexible packaging is collected, there will be viable routes to recycle it at scale in the UK”.
IN BRIEF
UK Packaging PRO steps up producer engagement
UK Packaging PRO is strengthening its engagement with producers and trade associations as it prepares to take on increasing responsibilities within the pEPR system.
Danielle Wood has joined the organisation from WRAP and will initially focus on meeting industry representatives to understand the issues, opportunities and challenges facing producers across different sectors. The PRO says the work will help ensure producer perspectives are reflected as the system continues to develop.
The organisation has also appointed Heineken UK Head of Sustainability Emmaline Rogers to its board, bringing additional representation from the brewing and pub sector.
Packaging companies feel squeeze from currency volatility
UK food and drink packaging businesses are being forced to absorb increasing foreign-exchange costs as currency and supply-chain volatility puts pressure on already tight margins. Research from currency-risk specialist Lumon found that almost half of senior decision-makers experience challenging timing gaps between paying suppliers and receiving customer payments, while 45% said currency instability reduces the money available for investment and growth. With internationally traded paper, board and food-grade plastics particularly exposed to dollar movements, the findings underline another source of cost pressure for packaging manufacturers and distributors.
PRN values support recovered paper market
OCC prices continued to edge upwards during August, supported by demand from Southeast Asia and India as well as stronger PRN and PERN values. Letsrecycle reports that most other recovered paper grades remained comparatively stable during the traditionally quieter summer period.
Wood foam moves into pilot production
A biodegradable wood-based foam developed by the University of British Columbia has moved into pilot-scale production as researchers explore its potential as an alternative to plastic foam packaging.
Made from softwoods and forestry residues using minimal chemical additives, the material is now being produced at a Vancouver pilot plant at around 150-200kg a day for customer testing. The developers envisage scaling production first to 1,000 tonnes and ultimately 15,000 tonnes a year.
While commercial viability and potential packaging applications remain to be proven, the move from laboratory development to pilot production represents a significant step towards potential market adoption.
Recycle Week toolkit launched as recycling confidence remains subdued
WRAP has published its toolkit for Recycle Week 2026, which runs from 14-20 September, providing businesses, councils and community organisations with editable campaign and social-media materials. Its latest Recycling Tracker shows 69% of people believe their recycling efforts are worthwhile, down from 81% in 2021, while one in four reports some distrust over whether material put out for recycling is actually recycled.
DRS prospects improve but Welsh glass remains critical
The UK's Deposit Return Scheme may have moved back onto firmer ground following Exchange for Change's appointment to administer the scheme in Wales, according to analysis by The Grocer.
The article argues that the October 2027 rollout now has a greater chance of success because delivery is increasingly being driven by industry through Exchange for Change rather than by separate political agendas across the four nations.
However, it warns that significant challenges remain, with agreement over how glass will operate in Wales likely to be the next crucial test of whether a coordinated UK launch can be achieved.
RVM certification gets underway ahead of UK DRS launch
Testing of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for use in the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme is now underway, with Exchange for Change expecting to publish its first list of certified machines in early October.
The Deposit Management Organisation is advising retailers considering purchasing an RVM to take account of the published machine specification and certification process before making procurement decisions. The certified list will provide retailers with assurance that machines meet the requirements of the scheme and will be updated as further models enter the market.
DRS accessibility put to the test at Special Olympics GB
Exchange for Change is partnering with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Special Olympics Great Britain to test the accessibility of reverse vending machines ahead of the UK Deposit Return Scheme launch.
The trial will take place during the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games in Birmingham from 27-30 August, where athletes with intellectual disabilities, alongside spectators and volunteers, will be able to use RVMs in a real-world environment.
Feedback will examine how easily users understand the machines and their instructions, identify potential barriers and help inform improvements before the scheme goes live in October 2027.
Former Defra DRS policy lead joins Exchange for Change
Exchange for Change has appointed David Gell as Head of External Affairs as preparations continue for the launch of the UK Deposit Return Scheme in October 2027.
Gell joins from Defra, where he was Head of Policy & Strategy for the Deposit Return Scheme and led work covering policy design and analysis, industry and government engagement, and the appointment of Exchange for Change as Deposit Management Organisation for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In his new role, he will focus on relationships with industry, government and other stakeholders as the DMO moves from scheme development towards implementation. His appointment brings significant first-hand knowledge of the policy and regulatory development of the DRS into the organisation responsible for delivering it.
ELSEWHERE ...
Food manufacturers call for relief from rising costs and regulatory pressure
Food and drink manufacturers are calling on the new Government to reduce business costs and regulatory pressure after industry confidence remained negative for a ninth consecutive quarter.
The Food and Drink Federation's latest State of Industry survey puts business confidence at -31% in Q2 2026. Although improved from -64% in the previous quarter, 91% of respondents said conditions were unchanged or worse than during Q1, while production costs have risen by an average of 3.8% over the past year.
Ahead of the new government's first Budget, 75% of respondents said labour costs should not rise above inflation, 56% called for measures to reduce energy costs and 50% wanted a review of regulatory burdens. The FDF specifically cited packaging EPR alongside other regulatory measures being introduced across the food and drink sector.
The findings also point to pressure on investment: 87% of respondents have no plans to increase investment in skills over the next year and 84% have no plans to increase R&D expenditure.
FPA comment: “These findings closely reflect concerns the FPA has raised with the new government. Individual policy measures cannot be considered in isolation when businesses are facing overlapping increases in employment, energy, regulatory and packaging compliance costs. A stable policy environment, proportionate regulation and realistic implementation timetables are essential if businesses are to retain the confidence and capacity to invest in UK manufacturing, skills and more sustainable packaging”.
Treasury cools expectations of hospitality VAT cut
Hospitality's campaign for a reduction in VAT has encountered a more cautious response from the new government, with Treasury minister James Murray warning that cutting the rate from 20% to 10% would carry a significant cost to the public finances.
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury said any reduction would need to be fully funded and demonstrate value for taxpayers, although he stopped short of ruling out measures in the forthcoming Budget.
His comments come as the sector continues to press for a permanent 10% hospitality VAT rate, arguing that the UK's current 20% rate places pubs, restaurants, cafés and hotels at a disadvantage to competitors in many European countries.
The #VATsTheProblem campaign, led by chef and publican Tom Kerridge and backed by UKHospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association and British Institute of Innkeeping, has now attracted more than 300,000 signatures. Industry bodies argue a reduction would help businesses absorb rising employment, food, energy and other operating costs while supporting investment, jobs and consumer demand.
The latest hospitality industry survey nevertheless suggests the new government's initial interventions have improved sentiment. The proportion of operators expecting government policy to have a positive impact has risen from 18% to 37% following measures including the planned 20% business-rates reduction for pubs, social clubs and live music venues. However, three-quarters of respondents continue to identify the overall tax burden as their biggest barrier to growth.
The VAT debate looks set to continue ahead of the government's first Budget, alongside the separate review of the way pubs and hotels are valued for business rates.
Government launches review of pub and hotel business rates
Government has launched an independent review of the way pubs and hotels are valued for business rates, following significant increases in rateable values at the 2026 revaluation.
Business rates specialist Jerry Schurder will lead the review and report to the Treasury by the end of March 2027. A call for evidence is open until 16 October 2026, with hospitality businesses and representative organisations invited to contribute.
The review will consider changes ahead of the next revaluation in 2029 and will not alter 2026 valuations. It follows previously announced reductions in business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues.
For the foodservice packaging supply chain, the review is relevant because it addresses continuing cost pressures within one of the industry's principal customer markets.
Government expands waste-crime crackdown with regional enforcement pilots
Government is stepping up implementation of its Waste Crime Action Plan, with Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire becoming the first areas to trial a regionally led approach bringing together mayors, councils, police and environmental regulators.
The new Waste Crime Crackdown Group chaired by Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle will oversee the wider response, while a further phase of the Environment Agency's Operation Unite will target priority operators, vehicles, routes and sites.
Three additional illegal waste sites in Bradford, Runnymede and the Isle of Sheppey, containing an estimated 22,000 tonnes of waste, have also been identified for potential clearance, subject to feasibility assessments.
Fly-tippers could be made to clean up waste under new council powers
Fly-tippers could be required to carry out up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work under new powers proposed for local authorities.
A Defra consultation proposes allowing councils to issue conditional cautions as an alternative to taking offenders through the courts. Councils would also be able to recover the costs of clearing dumped waste directly from those responsible.
The consultation closes on 16 October 2026.
EUROPE
SME backlash puts pressure on EU to ease PPWR burdens
Pressure is growing on the EU to reduce the burden of PPWR compliance on smaller businesses, with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola describing elements of the new packaging rules as “counterproductive” for SMEs and signalling that Parliament will seek changes.
Concern centres particularly on extended producer responsibility requirements for businesses selling packaged goods across borders. Small traders can be required to register separately with national EPR systems in each market in which they sell, while producers not established in a destination country can also face requirements to appoint an authorised representative.
Packaging Europe reports that individual registrations can cost more than €500 per country, potentially making low-volume cross-border sales uneconomic for some smaller businesses.
The issue has generated a rapidly growing campaign among microbusinesses. Euractiv reports that a petition calling for changes has attracted more than 70,000 signatures, while more than 5,000 responses were submitted to a European Commission consultation within its first two weeks. Campaigners are calling for a wider exemption based on turnover and packaging volumes.
The Commission has already proposed removing the mandatory authorised-representative requirement for producers established in one EU member state but selling into another. However, campaigners argue this alone will not address the cost and complexity of having to register and meet EPR requirements separately across multiple national markets.
Speaking this week, Metsola said packaging rules were imposing burdens on smaller European businesses that were the opposite of what the Single Market should achieve, and said the European Parliament would move to address the issue in the coming weeks.
FPA comment: “This is an important development. The objectives of PPWR should not result in disproportionate administrative costs that make it uneconomic for smaller businesses to trade across the Single Market.
“For UK companies exporting into the EU, the potential burden is particularly relevant. Removing the requirement to appoint multiple authorised representatives would be welcome, but policymakers should also look at whether fragmented registration and EPR arrangements create unnecessary barriers for businesses placing relatively small quantities of packaging on individual markets.
“Regulation needs to be proportionate as well as environmentally effective, and we welcome the growing recognition in Brussels that some aspects of implementation may need refining”.
OPRL expects PPWR labelling delay to be short
OPRL says it does not expect a lengthy delay before the European Commission publishes the implementing act setting out harmonised PPWR labelling requirements, following the missed 12 August deadline reported in last week's Digest.
Once the act is adopted, producers will have 24 months to apply the new harmonised labels, leaving what OPRL describes as a tight implementation timetable. The final specifications have yet to be confirmed, although they are expected to draw on the European Commission's Joint Research Centre proposals for standardised pictogram-based labels identifying packaging material composition.
OPRL is also developing an EU labelling tool intended to help brands adapt their packaging once the requirements are confirmed.
INTERNATIONAL
Canada investigates alleged dumping
of Chinese paper cups and containers
Canada has launched anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into imports of paperboard cups and food containers from China, following allegations that low-priced imports are damaging domestic manufacturers.
The Canada Border Services Agency investigation covers cups and containers made from coated paperboard, together with blanks used to manufacture them. The products include disposable packaging used for hot and cold drinks and food. The border agency will make its preliminary dumping and subsidy determinations by 16 November.
US packaging EPR faces legal and implementation challenges
Packaging EPR programmes in the United States continue to face challenges on two fronts, with litigation escalating in California while Maine has failed to secure an organisation to operate its scheme.
In California, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and a group of state attorneys general are seeking a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the state's SB 54 packaging EPR and source-reduction legislation. The complaint has been amended to draw on a separate legal challenge that has temporarily blocked enforcement of California's SB 343 recyclability-labelling law.
The action comes as a federal judge prepares to rule on a challenge to Oregon's packaging EPR system following a five-day trial in July. The outcome is being watched closely because of the potential implications for other state EPR programmes.
Meanwhile, Maine's Department of Environmental Protection received no bids by its 18 August deadline to appoint an organisation to administer the state's packaging EPR programme. Circular Action Alliance, which has been selected to operate programmes in six other EPR states, declined to bid, saying Maine's proposed arrangements did not align sufficiently with its operating systems and data requirements.
Maine – the first US state to enact a packaging EPR law in 2021 – is now reassessing anticipated dates for producer registration and invoicing.
Rising costs renew interest in corrugated box reuse
Rising containerboard prices are increasing interest in the reuse of corrugated boxes, with US suppliers reporting growing demand from businesses looking to reduce both packaging costs and environmental impacts.
Packaging Dive reports that used-box resellers can offer savings of up to 40% compared with new boxes, with even greater savings possible where boxes can be sourced and reused locally. Closed-loop systems – where used boxes are collected, inspected and returned into an established supply chain – appear to offer the greatest potential, including for food businesses where quality and contamination controls can be managed.
However, the market remains small and faces practical barriers including transport costs, matching available boxes to the sizes required and ensuring consistent quality. Industry commentators therefore see reuse as a useful option for particular supply chains rather than a wholesale alternative to recycling.
OTHER NEWS
UK
The Grocer: Second plastics bailout on cards as waste costs skyrocket. Read more here
letsrecycle.com: UK ETS expansion delayed – live sector reactions. Read more here
Resource Media: WRAP publishes Recycle Week 2026 toolkit as Rescue Me campaign returns. Read more here
Circular Economy Institute (CEI): Circular Economy Institute launches official 'Business Excellence Partner' programme to verify organisational circular progress. Read more here
The Guardian: Pubs, bars and hotels report ‘Burnham bounce’ in optimism but call for further tax relief. Read more here
Restaurant: Profits at the UK’s 100 largest restaurant groups fall by 44% despite turnover increasing, as labour, rates, food and energy costs continue to squeeze margins. Read more here
Restaurant: Delivery and takeaway sales stagnate in July, although at-home orders now account for almost a fifth of restaurant spending and delivery sales remain ahead of collection. Read more here
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
Packaging Europe: University of Surrey develops polymer that turns into gas when heated and reforms when cooled. Read more here
Packaging Europe: Demeter Bio develops bio-based, non-toxic alternative to PFAS coatings for packaging. Read more here
Packaging Insights: Amcor and Tiptree adopt certified 30% PCR films ahead of UK Plastic Packaging Tax changes. Read more here
Inc.: PlantSwitch scales PHA-based plastic alternatives towards production of one billion foodservice units a year. Read more here
Packaging Europe: SealTrust demonstrates an item-level digital product passport that can be independently verified. Read more here
EUROPE
Packaging Europe: McKinsey examines how digitalised mills could strengthen Europe’s pulp and paper sector. Read more here
In-Food: Stretch-film dispute exposes PPWR responsibility gap. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Packaging Insights: U.S. Plastics Pact removes EPS transport packaging from its problematic materials list. Read more here
Packaging Dive: North American containerboard prices hold steady in August ahead of another round of increases. Read more here
Packaging Europe: Indorama Ventures and partners plan commercial-scale bottle-to-preform PET recycling in Thailand. Read more here
FPA NEWS & EVENTS
New FPA PPWR Compliance Guide helps members navigate the latest EU packaging rules
The FPA SAGA Committee has produced a new PPWR Compliance Guide for members to help businesses understand the requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and identify the actions they should now be taking.
Available through the FPA Member Hub, the 20-page practical guide has been developed specifically with the foodservice packaging sector in mind and reflects Regulation (EU) 2025/40 alongside the European Commission guidance published in June and its latest PPWR FAQs issued on 3 August.
It explains how responsibilities differ depending on whether a business is acting as a manufacturer, supplier, importer, distributor or producer and sets out the provisions already applicable following PPWR’s 12 August application date. These include the new PFAS restrictions for food-contact packaging, recyclability requirements, manufacturer identification and traceability, supplier documentation, conformity assessment and EU Declarations of Conformity.
The guide also looks ahead to requirements that will be phased in over the coming years, including harmonised labelling, compostability requirements for specified formats, takeaway refill and reuse obligations, recycled-content targets, packaging minimisation, empty-space limits, restrictions on certain single-use plastic packaging formats and reuse targets. A priority compliance table provides members with an at-a-glance indication of the deadlines and actions requiring the most immediate attention.
Importantly for UK businesses, the guidance also explains the different position in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and highlights the need for companies supplying EU markets to identify their role and responsibilities for each individual supply route.
With a number of PPWR implementing and delegated acts still outstanding, the guide will be reviewed and updated as further official detail becomes available.
FPA members can access the new PPWR Compliance Guidance now via this link or through the FPA Member Hub.
Put your brand at the heart of the FPA Environment Seminar
There are still opportunities for members to put their brand in front of delegates attending the 2026 FPA Environment Seminar at Stationers’ Hall, London, on 5 November.
This year's programme will bring together speakers and industry leaders to explore the issues shaping the future of foodservice packaging, including EPR and regulation, UK manufacturing, sustainable packaging, AI, life cycle assessment and emerging technologies, accreditation, consumer confidence and compliance.
A range of sponsorship opportunities is available to suit different budgets, starting from just £250 + VAT. Options include Gold, Silver and Bronze packages alongside sponsorship of individual elements of the event, including the drinks reception, delegate tote bags, notebooks and pens, literature inserts and displays.
Sponsorship provides an opportunity to place your company directly in front of an engaged audience of packaging manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, policymakers and other sector stakeholders throughout one of the FPA's key annual events.
The image above illustrates just some of the branding possibilities. The FPA logo and sample wording shown on the roller banner, delegate bag and lanyard are placeholders – these positions would carry the sponsoring company's own logo, branding and agreed messaging.
Delegate tickets will be available to purchase shortly.
Confidential input requested
Businesses with concerns about how pEPR is operating in practice – including issues relating to scope, competition, enforcement or unintended consequences, are invited to share their experiences in confidence with the FPA. We also welcome intelligence on potential gaps in scope, market distortions or suspected avoidance behaviours, which can be shared in confidence.
This insight is invaluable in ensuring industry concerns are effectively represented in our ongoing engagement with Defra, PackUK and the Environment Agency.
Please contact the compliance team directly via compliance@foodservicepackaging.org.uk. All information will be handled sensitively and used to inform our evidence base and policy discussions.
EXTERNAL EVENTS & PARTNER NEWS
Defra Circular Economy stakeholder forums
resume in September
Defra's Circular Economy Joint Stakeholder Forums return on 01 September following the summer break, providing businesses and other stakeholders with regular updates on packaging, waste and wider circular economy reforms.
The online forums provide updates from Defra's Circular Economy Directorate, PackUK, the Environment Agency and other relevant bodies, and give stakeholders an opportunity to hear about policy and operational developments and put questions to officials. Recent sessions have covered pEPR, PRN/PERN reform, RAM, PPWR, Digital Waste Tracking and local authority payments.
The link is different each month, so it is important to use the correct link for each session. Microsoft Teams will then send a calendar invite automatically for the date you have registered.
Upcoming forums:
Tuesday 01 September
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Register for 01 September session
Tuesday 06 October
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Register for 06 October session
Tuesday 03 November
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Register for 03 November session
Tuesday 01 December
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Register for 01 December session
Do you know a business that should join the FPA?
The Foodservice Packaging Association represents the interests of its members at all levels and works hard to ensure its members are better represented, better informed and better connected.
FPA members receive early sight of this Digest on Thursday evenings, prior to distribution each Friday morning, and can view an archive of previous Digests within their FPA Dashboards or via this link