Defra data: 89% of packaging producers miss green mark
Defra data shows 89% of UK packaging producers still use non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle materials, exposing them to rising pEPR fees.
89% of the 11,701 obligated packaging producers in the UK are still using non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle materials, according to Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs data.
The data, released under Environmental Information Regulations following a Freedom of Information request from BagKraft, shows 14% of producers supply exclusively 'Red' rated packaging. Another 1% supply strictly 'Amber' rated packaging.
Three-quarters of producers supply a mix of packaging ratings. Only 10% have fully transitioned to strictly 'Green' packaging. The figures show the gap between corporate sustainability targets and supply chain practices ahead of the pEPR regime.
The pEPR framework penalizes difficult-to-recycle materials through higher fees. Producers relying on Red and Amber-rated packaging face rising operational costs and reputational risks.
"The conversation around sustainability is everywhere, the physical transition is lagging," Jon Marling, BagKraft's managing director, said. He called the 10% figure a "wake-up call" and said the shift is now a financial necessity, not just an environmental one.
Marling said the data should prompt brands and retailers to audit their packaging portfolios to mitigate regulatory penalties.
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