The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has advised UK wine businesses to include the costs of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations in their financial forecasts.
At the London Wine Fair, WSTA’s Director of Policy, Simon Stannard, highlighted the need for businesses to prepare for these regulations, set to come into effect in October 2025.
The EPR scheme aims to enhance recycling and reduce packaging waste, requiring UK businesses involved with packaging to register with the government’s Recycling Packaging Database (RPD) by 31 May 2024. Larger companies, with an annual turnover exceeding £1 million and more than 25 tonnes of packaging in 2022, must also report their data by this deadline.
Smaller companies must begin recording their data for bi-annual reporting starting in 2025. Stannard emphasised the significance of the costs involved and the importance of integrating these into their planning, although exact details of the costs remain unclear, especially with a general election possibly delaying clarity.
The impact of EPR regulations is expected to ultimately result in higher costs for consumers.
