UK Government Reduces Packaging Costs for Businesses and Pubs

The UK Government has announced new measures to reduce packaging costs for restaurants, pubs, and hospitality businesses. From April 2027, glass drinks containers sold directly from producers to these venues will no longer be liable for Extended Producer Responsibility fees.

The changes are intended to cut double charging for recycling the same packaging. This is expected to save businesses up to 6p per beer bottle and 10p per wine bottle. For a pub selling 10,000 beer bottles and 3,700 wine bottles, this could result in annual savings of up to £870.

Businesses will also be consulted on fees they pay for packaging waste, with the aim of making easy-to-recycle packaging like glass and paper less costly, while increasing fees for hard-to-recycle packaging such as some plastics. This could reduce fees for the most recyclable packaging by up to 40% per year.

Extended Producer Responsibility was introduced to encourage businesses to use more sustainable packaging. The Government stated that the announced changes will make the system fairer and better targeted.

Separately, the independent Trade Remedies Authority is investigating imports of glass containers, including a dumping investigation on Chinese-origin imports and a subsidy investigation on Turkish-origin imports. A provisional anti-dumping measure on Chinese imports was imposed on 9 September, and both investigations are ongoing.

The Government stated it is committed to supporting British business and the glass industry, while ensuring efforts to reduce waste. Further measures to support businesses are planned, including a call for evidence next month to explore ways to increase the reuse of packaging and a consultation in early 2027 on fees manufacturers pay for packaging waste.