Plastic Packaging Tax – draft legislation published

The plastic packaging tax consultation responses, accompanied by draft legislation, have been released.

The consultation, which was extended in the spring due to Covid-19 pressures, saw 291 responses submitted across industries affected.

The Plastic Packaging Tax, proposed by government in 2017, will apply from April 2022 to plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into, the UK which contains less than 30% recycled plastic.

Several exemptions will be made following the consultation responses, including the immediate packaging of licensed human medicines and packaging used to transport imported goods.

The government has confirmed that the de minimis will be 10 tonnes, which could capture a significantly larger proportion of businesses currently subject to packaging legislation.

The tax will seek to provide a ‘clear economic incentive’ for businesses to use recycled material in the production of plastic packaging, which will create greater demand for this material.

Jimmy Dorrell, Head of Sustainable Business at Clarity Environmental, commented it is now essential for businesses to prepare for the impacts of this legislation.

“We have seen a trend over the past few years for businesses to use recycled content in packaging as environmental issues have become more prevalent however it is now essential that recycled content, recyclability and the circular economy are considerations at the first stage of packaging design.

“If you would like to learn more about how to prepare for this tax, the expectations of businesses in supply chain monitoring and how much this could cost for your business please sign up to our plastic packaging tax webinar, which will be taking place on the 24th November. Alternatively sign up using the form below for an idea of how much the tax could cost your business.”

What will the plastic tax cost your business?

The government has set a rate of £200 per tonne on plastic packaging placed onto the UK market that has less than 30% recycled plastic content. This rate will be subject to review to ensure that the tax remains effective in increasing the use of recycled plastic. The costs of the tax to each business will vary. To help those affected to prepare for the changes ahead, we have devised a forecasting tool to provide an impact assessment of the Plastic Packaging Tax on your business. Fill in our contact form to talk to us about this tool, or if you have any questions or concerns about what the tax means for your business.

The consultation responses can be found here and the draft legislation here.