Our policy influence

Everything to do with producer responsibility is shaped by policy. That’s why we’re at the forefront of packaging policy to influence, advise and guide.

We help shape the future of packaging

Packaging producer responsibility has undergone a seismic shift in the last few years. The 2007 shared responsibility system has now evolved into Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), with a single point of compliance and increased producer obligations. The Plastic Packaging Tax is now in place to encourage higher recycled content, and a UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme is slated to start by 2027.

All the above are heavily regulated and born out of UK government policy. They continue to evolve, influenced by policy drivers, government strategy, and stakeholder feedback. We simply must be involved to ensure they deliver successful outcomes for all.

As a compliance scheme, we ensure that we are never passive observers of the system. We actively represent our members’ interests whenever possible. We directly advise and influence government policy, supporting the Resources and Waste Strategy and helping to form the new EPR Scheme Administrator.

We’re passionate about accelerating change to improve the impact of packaging too, making sure innovation feeds through to policy. And of course, we’re always on hand to advise and support our members, making the complex slightly less daunting!

Written by Robbie Staniforth

Innovation and policy director

Directly advising government

Since 2021 we’ve been part of the Advisory Committee on Packaging. Appointed by DEFRA, the committee brings together packaging industry expertise to directly advise government on significant policy development.

The committee meets quarterly across all home nations and includes representatives for producers, local authorities, retailers, individual packaging materials, waste management and compliance schemes.

Find out more about the ACP

Standing up the EPR scheme administrator

We are the only compliance scheme to be part of the interim steering group that is standing up the packaging EPR Scheme Administrator – a brand-new government department.

We’re informing detailed system design during this implementation stage and are involved in a practical, operational basis. The group drives genuine action and key decision-making. We’re proud to be at the table with other industry representatives to ensure best practice and represent our members.

Find out more about the EPR scheme administrator

Providing a collective voice

In 2018 we established and chaired the Packaging Scheme Forum to bring together 44 compliance schemes to better liaise with government on EPR.

It is particularly effective at resolving specific data and legislation interpretation issues, for both schemes and producers, and widely sharing new government insights and advice quickly.

Find out more about the PSF

Collaborating with industry groups

We’re members of, and regularly work with, a broad spectrum of industry groups, including the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM), RECOUP, On-pack Recycling Labels (OPRL) and the Food and Drinks Exporters Association (FDEA).

We’re a technical advisor with the UK Plastics Pact and we sit on the sustainability and government affairs committee of the Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA).

If you are part of an industry group that we should be collaborating with, please let us know.

Supporting our members

We provide policy advice to our members in many ways. Online knowledge articles explain the regulations and government policy implementation. Webinars provide a deep-dive into complex topics with a live Q&A.

Face-to-face meetings provide an opportunity to explain how policy directly impacts your organisation. In-person strategic meetings bring our members together to collaboratively explore key policy topics. Our policy team are well respected in the industry for good reason.

Whatever policy support you need, we’re ready.

Request policy support

We chose Ecosurety because we were extremely impressed by their unwavering commitment to greater transparency inside the PRN system.

Written by Michelle Norman

External Affairs and Sustainability Director at Lucozade Ribena Suntory

Sharing our responses to government

We always publicly share our government consultation responses before the submission deadline. We do this to actively encourage others to respond and to inform our members.

Read our consultation responses