British Glass has welcomed planned UK government changes to packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) fees, including an exemption for certain glass packaging supplied directly to licensed hospitality venues.
The proposals include an update to the material value assigned to glass packaging and plans to introduce higher modulation factors for packaging materials that are less recyclable from the third year of pEPR. The government also intends to issue calls for evidence on fee modulation and reuse, British Glass said.
The proposed hospitality exemption would cover certain glass packaging supplied directly to licensed hospitality venues, rather than all glass packaging. The organisation said it was important to understand the full impact of the exemption, while welcoming the government's recognition of cost challenges facing hospitality businesses.
British Glass has argued that glass has faced a disproportionate share of pEPR costs because fees are calculated by weight rather than by the number of packaging units placed on the market. The organisation said this had increased pressure on UK glass manufacturers from food and drink companies that purchase packaging by unit.
It linked the weight-based charge to material switching from glass to lighter packaging materials. British Glass said the fee method did not match the way many customers buy packaging, since they purchase by unit rather than by weight, and that the mismatch had added to pressure on domestic manufacturers.
Nick Kirk, executive director of British Glass, said the government had listened and recognised the importance of maintaining a strong domestic glass industry. He said the proposed changes began to address some unintended consequences of pEPR and better recognised the environmental benefits of glass.
Kirk said the planned update to glass material value, the proposed acceleration of modulation factors and the commitment to review future fee structures would move the system in a fairer direction. He also welcomed the forthcoming calls for evidence on modulation and reuse.
British Glass noted that the reforms would not take effect until the third year of the scheme, covering April 2027 to March 2028. It said glass manufacturers continued to face pressure from high energy costs, international competition and uncertainty surrounding future packaging policy.
Kirk said the changes should be the start rather than the end of the process, adding that glass manufacturers were making decisions on investment, production and jobs now.
Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said the government had shown that it meant business on tackling harmful packaging materials and protecting UK glass manufacturing.