Prime minister Andy Burnham has been urged to step in to prevent millions of products – such as coffee cups and takeaway containers – switching back to single-use plastic because of “perverse consequences” of the extended producer responsibility packaging tax.
The Alliance for Fibre-Based Packaging (AFBP), which speaks for the manufacturers of fibre and fibre/paper composite (FBC) used by tens of thousands of coffee shops and takeaway businesses, delivered a paper calling for change to 10 Downing Street on Friday.
It claims that the EPR framework risks penalising fibre-based packaging by imposing fees that are not supported by sufficiently transparent evidence, and are encouraging businesses to switch back to plastic.
Under EPR packaging regulations, a composite material with 5% or less plastic content by weight is officially classified and reported as paper or board rather than a fibre-based composite.
However, packaging with more than 5% is classed as a fibre-based composite, which incurs significantly higher base disposal fees.
Under EPR fees calculated for the first year of the scheme, producers are facing charges of £461 per tonne for fibre-based composite packaging. This is more than double the fee for paper, which stands at £196, and higher than the £423 fee for plastic.
The organisation – whose members collectively account for more than £24bn in turnover and 210,000 UK jobs – argues that the strict cut-off penalises companies that are using composite materials which act as a functional barrier for coatings needed for food and liquid packaging,
It says that before year two fees are confirmed later this year, PackUK should publish a full breakdown of the costs to local authorities, including tonnage data, collection and residual-waste assumptions and reprocessing costs. AFBP claims this would show that producers have been overcharged by as much as £14m since the scheme came in.
It is also calling for an independent review of the £461 per tonne year two FBC fee.
Neil Whittall, co-chair of the alliance, said: “Manufacturers and retailers share the government’s vision for a circular economy, but the current regulations punish the very innovations we need.
“By taking a step back and refining the packaging EPR framework, we can secure vital investment, create regional jobs and boost manufacturing.
“If we miss this window, we will see more plastic heading straight to landfill instead of more sustainable alternatives.”
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