Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging is changing the way packaging is managed in the UK. If you sell packaged products on the UK market, EPR aims to ensure that the producer covers the costs of managing packaging waste. For brands that ship e-commerce orders on a daily basis, this can quickly translate into a significant reporting burden and rising costs.

What is EPR for packaging?

EPR for packaging is the regulatory framework applied in the UK that places financial responsibility for packaging waste management on the companies that put it on the market. In practice, affected organisations must report detailed packaging data and, depending on their size, weight, material and recyclability, pay fees accordingly.

The regulations apply to organisations subject to the obligation that operate in the UK, import or transport packaging and meet the relevant threshold values (the requirements are different for “small” and “large” companies).

What obligations does EPR impose on companies?

For many brands, EPR creates new areas of work: reporting, recyclability assessment (RAM) and fees.

1. Monitoring what you place on the market

If your brand is subject to obligations, you may need to collect and submit packaging data every 6 months. The report may include the type of packaging transported/imported, the material and weight, and whether it is domestic or non-domestic packaging.

2. RAM: the Recyclability Assessment Methodology

EPR also introduces the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM), which requires information on the recyclability of certain packaging. The UK scheme uses the RAM to rate packaging and calculate fees. From 2026, modulated fees are introduced under the EPR scheme, so the costs will vary depending on the recyclability classification (red/amber/green) of packaging.

3. Covering waste management and administration costs

In addition to reporting, large organisations must pay a waste management fee, system administration costs and registration fees to the relevant environmental regulatory authority.

To give an idea of the scale: in the UK, the published base fees for 2026-2027 are expressed in tonnes per material type (e.g. plastic £423/tonne; paper and cardboard £196/tonne).

Why can reusable packaging make EPR easier and less expensive?

Single-use packaging entails a recurring obligation. Each shipment means more packaging on the market, more data to monitor and more fees to pay.

Reusable packaging changes this dynamic in two ways:

1. Reusable household packaging only needs to be declared once:

UK guidance for RAM states that household packaging that is reusable or refillable only needs to be reported the first time it is supplied.

This is a major advantage if a packaging unit is used more than 20 times. Instead of being reported as “new packaging” with each shipment, it is only counted when it is first used. In the case of repeated use, the actual cost of use can be significantly reduced.

2. Movopack retains ownership and manages reporting

The Movopack model is different from purchasing single-use packaging. Brands rent Movopack reusable packaging, so ownership remains with Movopack.

In practice, this structure is designed to significantly reduce the administrative burden of EPR for brands: Movopack handles the reporting and tax payment obligations for Movopack packaging, while the brand can focus on sales and delivery.

How does Movopack work in the UK?

The brand delivers products to customers using Movopack's reusable packaging. After unboxing the product, the customer returns the empty packaging to any of the 115,000 Royal Mail post boxes across the UK.

Movopack then receives the packaging, cleans it, and puts it back into circulation for the partner brand to reuse. Since reusable household packaging only needs to be reported when it is first shipped, there is no need to report it again after each reuse and pay the EPR tax.

If you want to reduce packaging waste, simplify UK EPR compliance, and turn shipping into a measurable sustainability win, reusable packaging is one of the most practical switches you can make. Get a free sample today!