UK packaging producers could be affected by EU trends on differentiated fees

UK packaging producers could be affected by a growing number of European countries implementing differentiated fees based on eco-design and recyclability criteria, according to leading resource efficiency specialist Ecosurety. 

Norway and Germany have proposed legislation that would see producers paying more if they place complex packaging onto their local market. France already charges producers more for harder-to-recycle packaging and Italy is looking to trial fee changes next year. 

It could mean UK producers will have to pay more for recycling if they do not improve the recyclability of their packaging aimed at EU markets.

The topic will be among those discussed during a one-day seminar organised by Ecosurety on 19 January.

The international compliance seminar, in central London will cover packaging, WEEE, and battery compliance outside the UK. Monika Romenska, regulatory and public affairs manager at EXPRA (Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance) will also speak at the event.

Fran Witthuhn, international compliance specialist at Ecosurety, says, “In the UK, producers pay a contribution towards the recycling industry, in the rest of Europe producers finance the collection and recycling of packaging waste to encourage households to recycle more materials.  The landscape is further complicated by the fact that if more and more EU countries adopt differentiated fees, an objective outlined in the EU’s Circular Economy Package, each country could conceivably lay down different packaging design rules, which would add cost and complexity when placing product in individual markets.”

She continues, “Differentiated fees are in the long-term an opportunity for packaging producers to re-think their designs or practices to further increase recycling levels. They will eventually provide producers who refine their practises, with the opportunity to save money. “

Other topics on the seminar agenda include: product stewardship and take-back outside of the EU, particularly in North America, e-commerce and third party fulfilment. There will also be discussions about evolving producer responsibility, with a final round table discussion featuring an external speaker, plus insight on reforming the current packaging recovery note (PRN) system, and an introduction to Ecosurety’s solution Circularety.   

There will also be a number of practical sessions on how to assess producer obligations under WEEE, battery and packaging regulations abroad, and how to draw up a compliance management strategy for complex supply chain and distribution systems. Attendees are also encouraged to describe their company’s exporting experiences to help share knowledge and gain greater understanding of options and impacts when selling abroad.  A networking session will be held after the seminar has concluded.

 Fran concludes: “This seminar is aimed at helping producers who want all the facts currently available at their fingertips, so they can make smart decisions as they head into 2017.”

The event will be held at Ashfords LLP, London, EC14 1AN. For more information and to book your place click here: 

About Ecosurety 

Founded in 2003, Ecosurety is the UK’s leading resource efficiency specialist with end to end services including environmental compliance, training and intelligence reporting. With more than 1,000 customers including The Co-operative Group, Innocent, Virgin Media and Britvic, Ecosurety is leading change in approaches to environmental compliance throughout the UK, driving ever greater efficiencies of resource use.

Committed to reducing the environmental impact of UK businesses while improving performance, Ecosurety is targeting to influence over one million tonnes of waste by 2020.

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