British Glass has submitted a detailed packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) evidence report to Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), HM Treasury, Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and PackUK. The report highlights growing concerns that the current pEPR design could inadvertently harm UK glass manufacturing and distort material choices.

British Glass gathered data across the glass supply chain, showing that current fee structures create strong financial incentives for packaging producers to switch from glass to plastic. This trend risks reducing demand for a material that is widely recycled and essential to the UK’s circular economy.

The report warns that without adjustments, the combination of high fee levels, modulation structures, and implementation timelines could disadvantage domestic manufacturers while failing to achieve intended environmental benefits. Many businesses are already reporting commercial pressures linked to anticipated pEPR costs and uncertainty about future fees.

Key areas for policy reconsideration include aligning fee modulation with recyclability, ensuring transparent implementation timelines, and accounting for real-world material impacts. British Glass emphasizes that evidence from businesses illustrates how the current framework is influencing investment decisions, material selection, and market competitiveness.