23 Oct. 2025: Smurfit Westrock is calling for brands and companies in the packaging supply chain to consider materials, recycling rates, and overall EPR costs moving forward.

It said as well as costly EPR fees, non-compliance can lead to fines, enforcement notices, sales bans, and even criminal prosecution.

“But it’s not only legislation driving the change. Consumer expectations around packaging are also rising, with 3 in 4 UK consumers demanding action on plastic waste, and 32% valuing responsible supply chains (Deloitte). That means reducing packaging costs isn’t just about compliance – it’s also about meeting customer demand and protecting brand reputation,” the company said in a statement.

Firms should consider:

• Material modulation – EPR fees are influenced by the recyclability of packaging, and materials that are highly recyclable attract lower fees.
• High recovery rates – Under EPR, packaging with higher recycling recovery rates is often subject to lower fees. Some materials perform better than others, as widely collected and easily recycled formats reduce costs while supporting strong environmental outcomes.
• Eco-modulation ready – EPR regulations are likely to change over time, and some packaging, like corrugated cardboard, is poised to benefit from reduced fees under future eco-modulation rules. By using these materials now, you can future-proof your packaging strategy.

It pointed out that opting for packaging that’s easy to sort and recycle can reduce EPR costs: “Take Marshall-Tufflex, the UK’s leading cable management manufacturer – they removed plastic tape from their packs to create a fully recyclable corrugated solution that aligns with their Net Zero mission.”

With EPR fees linked to packaging weight, cutting down on heavy or high-cost materials is essential.

“Strong, durable, yet lightweight designs not only reduce material use but also lower transport emissions and shipping costs. For example, Iron Mountain, a global leader in storage and information management services, streamlined their packaging to cover a wide range of equipment sizes – reducing four box formats down to one, resulting in fewer materials used.”

Alongside packaging materials, inaccurate reporting can have a significant impact on EPR costs, regardless of the packaging you use.” “Even small mistakes in packaging weights can quickly add up to hefty, unnecessary costs. It’s essential that packaging weights are accurately reported, and that the data is precise, but different materials bring different reporting challenges.”

By Waqas Qureshi https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/