UK packaging tax likely to push costs onto consumers, warns retail body

New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) suggest that over 80 per cent of the additional cost incurred by the UK’s new packaging tax—operating under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme—will be passed on to consumers. The tax came into force at the beginning of October 2025. Leading retailers warn of mounting financial and administrative pressure due to EPR, saying that the burden of compliance and costs will further strain a sector already squeezed by wage and tax increases. Ri ...