Packaging & Printing

British Glass welcomes planned pEPR glass fee changes and hospitality exemption

Nadia SorensenNovember 12, 20265 min read2 views

At a glance

  • The government plans to update the material value for glass, introduce stronger modulation for less recyclable packaging and exempt certain hospitality glass from pEPR fees.
  • British Glass has welcomed government plans to change packaging extended producer responsibility fees, including a hospitality exemption, an updated glass material value and higher modulation factors from the scheme's third year. The industry body says weight-based fees have disadvantaged glass and prompted material switching.
A conceptual editorial illustration shows glass bottles and jars on a conveyor beside a balance scale comparing glass with lightweight packaging, with a hospitality setting in the background.

British Glass has welcomed government plans to revise packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) fees, including an exemption for certain glass packaging supplied directly to licensed hospitality venues.

The proposed measures also include an update to the material value assigned to glass packaging and plans to introduce higher modulation factors for less recyclable packaging materials from the third year of pEPR. The government will issue calls for evidence on fee modulation and reuse.

Fee structure concerns

British Glass said glass had faced a disproportionate share of pEPR costs because fees are calculated by weight rather than by the number of packaging units placed on the market. It said this increased pressure on UK glass manufacturers from food and drink companies that purchase packaging by units, not weight, prompting material switching from glass to lighter packaging materials.

Nick Kirk, executive director of British Glass, said the government had listened and recognised the importance of maintaining a strong domestic glass industry. He said the proposed changes begin to address some unintended consequences of pEPR and better recognise the environmental benefits of glass. The planned update to glass material value, proposed acceleration of modulation factors and commitment to review future fee structures move the system in a fairer direction, he said.

Hospitality exemption

Kirk said that while it was important to understand the full impact of the proposed exemption, it was encouraging that the government recognised challenges facing hospitality businesses and was taking steps to avoid unnecessary costs. He particularly welcomed the forthcoming calls for evidence on modulation and reuse.

British Glass noted that the reforms will not take effect until the scheme's third year, covering April 2027 to March 2028. The organisation said glass manufacturers continued to face pressure from high energy costs, international competition and uncertainty surrounding future packaging policy.

Kirk said the changes must be the start rather than the end of the process, adding that glass manufacturers were making decisions on investment, production and jobs now.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said the government had shown it means business on tackling harmful packaging materials and protecting UK glass manufacturing.

Reported by Nadia Sorensen, Extrusion, Film and Plastic Packaging Specialist.