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Policy, Advocacy & Compliance

Any change in national or international environmental policy will almost certainly have an impact on the plastic industry. At RECOUP, we are committed to being a key voice in shaping environmental policy, so that new policies are designed and implemented in a way that is practical, progressive and purposeful.

We engage with RECOUP members and other stakeholders to ensure that policy makers get the right evidence and guidance at all levels.

Critical areas where RECOUP’s voice has made a difference to environmental policy include:

 

  • The use of recycled content.
  • How and where plastics are collected for recycling.
  • The infrastructure needed to recycle plastics.

What RECOUP do

  • Produce updates and analysis for members around upcoming policy changes and legislations.
  • Highlight the impact on the various sectors represented in the RECOUP membership.
  • Engage with and advise government, devolved administrations and others on policy design and outcomes. These include HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Environment Agency (EA), and the Food Standards Agency (FSA), among others.
  • Respond to government consultations and engage with members and other organisations to, where possible, align views and evidence.
  • Provide updates relating to plastic collection and recycling, and systems such as the Packaging Recovery Note (PRN), plastic recycling export, and other related data.
  • Develop RECOUP position statements on key topics, including plastic waste export and food contact recycled content.

How RECOUP can help

  • Responses to government consultations incorporating feedback and input from members.
  • Communicate and provide advice and guidance to members to help them better understand policy and legislation.
  • Take specific requests from members and engage with policy makers on their behalf.

Key areas of UK and EU environmental Policy

These are some of the major consultations and legislation that affect plastics packaging:

  • Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR). This holds producers accountable for covering the ‘full net costs’ that local authorities have previously held in collecting and sorting of packaging waste. Initial costs to packaging producers they place on the market are based on base fees and costs will become modulated from 2026 based on the recyclability of packaging materials and formats.
  • HMRC UK Plastic Packaging Tax. With the aim to increase recycled content in plastic packaging this is a tax on packaging made predominately of plastic, which is manufactured or imported in the UK and contains less than 30% recycled content.
  • Deposit Return Schemes (DRS). These are joint programmes where consumers receive a refund for returning beverage containers (bottles and cans) for recycling. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are planning to launch the scheme in 2027 with Wales set to operate a separate DRS that is not part of the UK joint process.
  • Simpler Recycling. With the aim to ensure the same set of materials are collected everywhere in England this will enable consistent, more streamlined collections of recycling and food waste from all households, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises (such as schools and hospitals) in England.
  • Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). A market-driven mechanism that limits the amount of emissions an involved industry is allowed to produce, with the aim to encourage a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The UK ETS will expand to include Energy from Waste (EfW) and waste incineration facilities from 2028.
  • Digital Waste Tracking. The use of technology to monitor and track the movement of waste, improving transparency and efficiency in waste management processes and ensuring proper disposal and recycling.
  • Single-Use Plastic Legislation in England, Wales and Scotland. Laws and regulations that restrict or ban the use of certain disposable plastic items to reduce plastic pollution and promote sustainable alternatives.
  • Windsor Framework (Northern Ireland). A strategic plan that aims to enhance waste management practices, promote sustainability, and transition towards a circular economy model.
  • EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This aims to minimise the quantities of packaging and waste generated, whilst lowering the use of primary raw materials and fostering the transition to a circular, sustainable and competitive economy. To achieve this, the legislation includes restrictions on what packaging can be used, promotes and sets minimum requirements for reusable and refillable packaging solutions, harmonises recycling packaging labelling and sets targets for increased recycled content.
  • Food Contact Plastic Packaging Legislation. This regulates the safety and compliance of plastic packaging materials used for food and beverages, ensuring they meet specific standards for food contact applications.
  • EU Waste Shipping Regulations. The regulation controls and monitors the exportation of waste materials, particularly to non-OECD countries, to ensure proper waste management, environmental protection, and compliance with international agreements.
  • Basel Convention. An international treaty that addresses the management, transport, and disposal of hazardous waste, promoting environmentally sound practices and global cooperation.

Policy & Legislation Reports

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