Are you aware of your packaging waste obligations as a business?
Do you know that businesses must follow environmental waste regulations when designing, filling or importing packaging?
Anyone who ‘handles obligated packaging’ is a producer.
Obligated packaging doesn’t include waste, exports or reused packaging unless it is imported.
Following Gov.UK guidelines you must register your business if you handle more than 50 tonnes of ‘obligated packaging’ a year or if your yearly turnover is more than £2 million.
According to Gov.UK, you business is deemed to “handle” obligated packaging if it:
- manufactures or convert raw materials to make packaging
- fills packaging with products
- sells packaged goods to customers
- hires out packaging, e.g pallets
- operates a franchise or other licensed business, including pubs
- imports packaging or packaged goods
- brings transit packaging into the UK that will end up as waste in the UK
You don’t have to register if the 50 tonnes of packaging is second hand packaging that is being reused in its original form and for the same purpose.
Environmental Responsibilities of packaging
You must follow these environmental regulations when designing, filling or importing packaging.
Amount of materials used
Packaging must meet the minimum weight and volume needed to keep the product safe and hygienic.
Hazardous substances
Packaging materials must not exceed heavy metal concentration limits of 100ppm (parts per million). The heavy metals these limits apply to are cadmium, mercury, lead and hexavalent chromium.
Recyclable packaging
Recyclable packaging must be designed so that a certain percentage of the materials used are recyclable.
Packaging for energy recovery
Packaging designed to be disposed of through energy recovery (energy through burning materials) must contain at least 50% of organic materials that burn, eg paper, wood, cardboard.
Biodegradable packaging
Packaging designed for composting must be biodegradable.
Reuseable packaging
Reusable packaging must be designed so that it can be used several times. Once it has been reused, it must meet the requirements for recycling, energy recovery or composting.
Source: Gov.uk
Published: 25th March 2021