The original proposal, which was intended to form a key part of the government’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) strategy, would have required packaging to carry labels indicating whether or not it was recyclable. This measure was seen as a significant step towards helping businesses and consumers make informed decisions about sustainable packaging disposal.
However, feedback from EU officials suggested that the proposed labelling requirements were not fully aligned with the EU’s own labelling plans, potentially causing issues for businesses operating across both the UK and Europe. To avoid any delays in the wider rollout of EPR, the government has decided to amend its approach to labelling requirements.