A Balanced and Holistic Approach to EPR is Needed

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) the talk of the day at the FPA 2024 Environmental Seminar.

Our Creative Director Zak Lowe was in attendance - and his perspective on the event highlights both opportunities and challenges in this latest environmental hot topic.

EPR should adhere to a level playing field

It’s no surprise that EPR was the major talking point. EPR policies are designed to encourage sustainable packaging practices, but Zak noted the potential risks if these policies are not balanced.

“You can have a solution in paper, and the same a solution in plastic, side-by-side. They are different weights – so the fees that apply to those materials need to be balanced. The goal is not to give a material a competitive advantage just because it’s cheaper by weight.”

The selection of a material that EPR applies to should not be based on financial gain but for genuine environmental benefit.

Everyone at the FPA 2024 Environmental Seminar recognised that it’s not the material’s fault. The issue is with the recycling infrastructure. Recycling rates in the UK still sit at under 40%. A shocking two-thirds of flexible plastics are still incinerated overseas. It’s time for improvements in our recycling infrastructure.

We’re assured that EPR is designed to fund the UK’s recycling infrastructure, and that it won't get just lost in a government hole. EPR funds are essential, but only if they’re used to actually build sustainable systems.

In addition to all this, Zak feels that there are further opportunities for reusable solutions and systems that are commercially viable and scalable.

Even if this requires legislation to drive change, or further incentives for consumers to reuse where possible.

Packaging development teams like our EP Design House can then focus even more on delivering the reusable packaging solutions that retailers and consumers require.