Foodservice Packaging Association urges the UK Government to simplify packaging regulations, improve policy coordination and provide greater certainty for industry investment.
UK Foodservice Packaging Association Urges Practical, Evidence-Based Packaging Reforms
The Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA) has called on the UK Government to adopt a more practical and collaborative approach to packaging policy, following the appointment of Emma Hardy MP as the minister responsible for the circular economy and waste crime portfolio at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
In a letter addressed to the new environment minister, the FPA stressed that foodservice packaging plays a vital role in ensuring the safe delivery of food and beverages across industries including hospitality, healthcare, education, retail, catering and travel. The association emphasized that future reforms should be realistic, evidence-driven, commercially viable and capable of delivering measurable environmental benefits.
The FPA highlighted several major policy initiatives currently affecting the sector, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM), Deposit Return Schemes (DRS), Simpler Recycling, and wider circular economy measures. It also noted that the Plastic Packaging Tax, although administered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), adds to the growing compliance burden faced by businesses.
According to the association, policymakers should ensure these regulations complement one another rather than creating overlapping requirements that increase costs or discourage long-term investment.
The FPA outlined five priority areas for government action. It recommended reviewing producer registration and enforcement under EPR, improving transparency around fee calculations, and strengthening compliance measures to ensure all obligated businesses contribute fairly. The association also urged the government to delay recyclability-based fee modulation until confidence in the EPR system has been firmly established.
The letter further called for future environmental regulations to be based on life-cycle assessments and comprehensive system-wide evidence instead of assumptions about specific packaging materials.
To encourage investment, the FPA said businesses require predictable implementation timelines, consistent regulatory guidance and confidence that adequate collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure will be available. It pointed to delays in mandatory plastic film and flexible packaging collections, alongside upcoming regulatory changes involving pEPR, RAM, DRS, Simpler Recycling, Digital Waste Tracking and the Plastic Packaging Tax.
The association also encouraged the government to develop policies that strengthen UK manufacturing while preventing compliant domestic producers from being placed at a competitive disadvantage as regulatory costs increase.
Finally, the FPA reaffirmed its willingness to work closely with Defra, offering industry expertise on supply chains, recycling infrastructure, operational costs and environmental performance. Representing around 130 manufacturers and distributors with a combined economic contribution exceeding £27 billion and supporting approximately 70,000 jobs, the association said it supports producer responsibility but believes reforms must provide sufficient certainty for businesses to invest while protecting consumers from unnecessary cost increases.
