How do the Packaging Regulations affect you?
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (Packaging Directive) was introduced to protect natural resources and manage packaging and packaging waste for the benefit of consumers and the environment.
In the UK, the Packaging Directive has been transposed into national law by The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 (as amended), (The Packaging Waste Regulations) and The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2015.
REPIC provides a producer compliance scheme to help companies obligated under the Packaging Waste Regulations.
What is Packaging?
Packaging is anything that is used to contain, protect, deliver or present goods. Goods could be raw materials or processed items.
Packaging can take many forms and includes boxes, pallets, labels, containers, tubes, bags, sacks, tape, wrapping and binding and tying material. For the definition of packaging, click here.
What’s in scope?
Your business will be classed as handling packaging if you carry out one or more of the packaging supply chain activities below. You will also be obligated if any of these activities are carried out on your behalf, if you own the packaging or the packed goods at the time at which the activity took place and you either imported the packaging, or you subsequently supply it to another party.
- Manufacturer – Manufactures the raw materials used to make packaging
- Convertor – Converts raw materials into packaging
- Packer/Filler – Fills packaging
- Seller – Sells packaged goods to the final user
- Importer – Imports packaging, packaging materials or packaged goods into the UK
