The CEO of packaging compliance company Valpak, Steve Gough has said his team is “on hand” to support businesses following the news that the government is delaying its new extended producer responsibility rules (EPR) to October 2025.
Valpak, which works with names including Aldi, Tesco, Asos and Miele, is part of the Reconomy Group which helps businesses with circular economy issues like waste management and recycling .
Food producers had previously lobbied the government to delay the rules. Gough explained that in the current economic climate, stakeholders “face tough choices”, and highlighted the need for a dry run of the EPR process ahead of the official start date:
“With consumers under significant pressure from the cost-of-living crisis, both government and business are struggling to balance budgets against a commitment to progress with environmental improvements,” Gough said.
He added that the delay “offers a great opportunity to effectively have a dry run of the EPR data collection process, so that targets for 2025 EPR can be set in the most appropriate manner.”’
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He continued: “EPR calls for data to be collected and prepared in a new format, and those which have not prepared will struggle to meet deadlines at short notice. Valpak staff are on hand to support members with any questions and issues they have with collecting data.
“This extended data collection requirement and the delay in the EPR charges gives opportunities for businesses to analyse and make changes ahead of the increased costs coming in 2025.”
“Companies in a number of sectors have been facing uncertainty over whether they need to register, particularly converters of packaging, franchisees and those in hospitality. But under the new delay they will remain obligated under the previous system until the end of 2024.”
