Under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), all consumer-facing primary and shipment packaging will need to bear OPRL’s Recycle Now labelling standard by March 2026, other than plastic film which will be obligated a year later in 2027.
To reflect the changes resulting from EPR decision-making, OPRL have published and updated their labelling rules for stakeholders. Modifications to the rules include the change from ‘Don’t Recycle’ to ‘Do Not Recycle’ as per the government’s response to EPR consultations.
Further updates include the revised eligibility for mixed polyolefin films to be included in front of store collection points, and that items such as mono-polymer toothpaste tubes are now permitted to use the ‘Recycle’ label given improved collection and sorting infrastructure.
We expect the OPRL labelling system will continue to be modified in line with government EPR policymaking. Businesses obligated for packaging under EPR will need to ensure it is labelled correctly to the dates stated above.
Despite the small business exemption under the reforms there will be no exceptions to the labelling policy, it is expected that manufacturers and sellers of packaging to organisations with less than £1 million annual turnover, and who handle less than 25 tonnes of packaging a year, will be required to apply the label on their behalf.
If you are an OPRL member, you can access resources in their members area, or use the open access guide on using OPRL labels here.
