Responding to Defra’s announcement of a delay to the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (EPR), Steve Gough, CEO at the UK’s largest compliance scheme, Reconomy brand Valpak, said: “In the current economic climate, stakeholders face tough choices. With consumers under significant pressure from the cost-of-living crisis, both government and business are struggling to balance budgets against a commitment to progress with environmental improvements. Defra today said that EPR charges would be delayed until 2025, with charges under the current PRN regulations to carry on into 2024. This offers a great opportunity to effectively have a dry run of the EPR data collection process, so that targets for 2025 EPR can be set in the most appropriate manner.
“EPR calls for data to be collected and prepared in a new format, and those which have not prepared will struggle to meet deadlines at short notice. Valpak staff are on hand to support members with any questions and issues they have with collecting data. This extended data collection requirement and the delay in the EPR charges gives opportunities for businesses to analyse and make changes ahead of the increased costs coming in 2025.
“Companies in a number of sectors have been facing uncertainty over whether they need to register, particularly converters of packaging, franchisees and those in hospitality. But under the new delay they will remain obligated under the previous system until the end of 2024.”