The UK’s packaging regulatory landscape is changing faster than at any point in the past two decades. Extended Producer Responsibility, eco-modulated fees, the Deposit Return Scheme, Digital Waste Tracking, Simpler Recycling, and the EU’s PPWR are all converging within a three-year window. Missing a deadline could mean missed reporting obligations, higher fees, or non-compliance.
This timeline consolidates every key date into a single reference. Bookmark it, share it with your compliance team, and check back regularly — we update this post as dates are confirmed or revised.
2025
- April 2025: pEPR goes live. Obligated producers must register with their environmental regulator and begin reporting packaging data. Year 1 uses flat base fees with no recyclability modulation.
- June 2025: Base fees for Year 1 (2025/26) confirmed and published by the government. Producers begin making payments to PackUK.
- October 2025: First pEPR fee invoices issued to obligated producers. 484 businesses reportedly affected by double-charging due to a technical issue, later resolved.
- December 2025: PackUK publishes illustrative Year 2 fees for 2026/27, including Red/Amber/Green modulated rates for the first time. Three-year modulation policy statement published.
2026
- March 2026: UK Packaging PRO formally appointed as the nation’s Producer Responsibility Organisation, commencing operations on 1 April 2026. PackUK retains oversight and fee-setting powers.
- April 2026: Reporting deadline for 2025 packaging data, including recyclability assessments. This data determines 2026/27 modulated fees. Eco-modulated fees begin: Red modulation factor 1.2x.
- June 2026 (expected): Confirmed Year 2 fees for 2026/27 published by PackUK, replacing the illustrative figures from December 2025.
- August 2026: EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) takes effect. UK businesses exporting to the EU must begin complying with new EU requirements.
- October 2026: Digital Waste Tracking becomes mandatory for UK waste receivers, replacing paper-based waste transfer notes.
2027
- March 2027: Simpler Recycling extends to include plastic film and flexible packaging in kerbside collections. This may affect RAM assessments for flexible formats.
- April 2027: Year 3 of pEPR. Red modulation factor escalates to 1.6x.
- October 2027 (expected): UK Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) launches for PET plastic bottles, steel and aluminium cans, and glass bottles. Deposit amount still to be confirmed.
2028 and beyond
- April 2028: Year 4 of pEPR. Red modulation factor reaches 2.0x — Red-rated packaging now attracts double the standard base fee. Three-year modulation review due by December 2028.
- December 2028: First formal review of the pEPR scheme by all four UK nations. Future modulation may incorporate broader environmental sustainability factors beyond recyclability alone.
- 2030: EU PPWR mandatory recycled content targets for plastic packaging begin to phase in (EU market only).
| The single most important near-term deadline for most businesses is April 2026: the reporting deadline for your 2025 packaging data, which determines your 2026/27 modulated fees. If your data is incomplete, inaccurate, or missing recyclability assessments, you risk defaulting to the highest fee band. If you have not already started your data collection, start now. |
For detailed guidance on each regulation, visit the FuturePack Regulatory Hub. To find suppliers who can help you improve your packaging’s recyclability, search the FuturePack directory.