Understand PRNs

Understand what Packaging waste Recovery Notes (PRNs) are and how they relate to your packaging EPR compliance obligation.

by Ben Luger · 29 November 2024

For example, if you’re obligated for 100 tonnes of plastic packaging, your obligation in 2026 would be:

100 tonnes x 0.57 = 57 tonnes or 57 plastic PRNs

As your scheme we purchase PRNs throughout the year to meet your obligation, to obtain the best prices we can. We invoice you quarterly to ensure we have purchasing power throughout the year. Find out more in ‘Understand your packaging EPR invoice’.

What happens to the money I pay for PRNs?

The money you pay for PRNs and PERNs helps strengthen UK recycling by giving reprocessors an important extra income stream that supports investment in new infrastructure and boosts the amount of post‑consumer material they can collect and recycle.

We work closely with UK reprocessors to secure competitive prices and carry out thorough due‑diligence checks, ensuring your spend delivers the greatest possible impact on UK recycling.

It is important to understand that PRN and PERN prices rise and fall with supply and demand. When recycling levels drop, PRNs become scarcer and more expensive - giving reprocessors additional funding to boost recycling. When recycling improves, PRNs become more plentiful and prices typically fall.

Ecosurety members can track daily PRN prices and trends through our PRN market analytics, and stay informed with our quarterly PRN market updates.

Next steps

Keep up to date with our PRN market analytics and PRN market update articles.

You may also find our Understand your Ecosurety packaging compliance invoice and Understand your packaging EPR costs articles helpful.