UK Packaging PRO has been appointed by PackUK as the national Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for the UK’s packaging recycling scheme, Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme.
The bid was led by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN) on behalf of their members.
Created by packaging producers and backed by organisations representing nearly half of the UK’s EPR fees, UK Packaging PRO is said to bring a united industry voice to one of the most ambitious environmental reforms in decades.
This new not-for-profit organisation will work with PackUK, governments, local authorities, the waste and recycling sector, and obligated producers of all sizes to:
- Improve recycling rates, by supporting innovation and improvements in how packaging is made, used, collected and recycled
- Ensure fees and incentives align with real environmental progress
- Support local authorities with data, insight and practical tools
- Lead industry’s efforts to improve and reduce packaging and support better recycling, across all four nations of the UK
The formal appointment of UK Packaging PRO will commence on 1 April, with responsibilities introduced gradually. Karen Graley, who has led the application process, will continue as head of UK Packaging PRO. Sebastian Munden CBE has been appointed chair of the board for UK Packaging PRO. He brings over 30 years’ global FMCG experience, most recently as former chief executive of Unilever UK & Ireland.
Karen Graley said, “We’re very proud to have been appointed to play such a vital role in the Packaging EPR scheme. UK Packaging PRO was created to give producers a genuine seat at the table. With strong governance in place, a clear mobilisation plan, and broad support from across the sector, we are ready to get to work – in close partnership with PackUK, governments, local authorities and organisations across the value chain to deliver a packaging system that works better for everyone.”
Sebastian Munden CBE added, “Many of us in the industry have been working for this moment for many years. Although it has been a long time to get here, this is only the very beginning of industry-led EPR in the UK. A cost-conscious, data-driven, innovation-minded approach will be good for citizens, local authorities and producers, with benefits in standards of living and to the economy. I am looking forward to a genuine partnership between government and business.”
