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 ...

UK retailers are to pass on most of the costs from the UK's new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, the country's principal retail trade body has said. According to a new survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which says the EPR is set to “cost industry billions", more than 80% of costs from the new regulations are likely to be passed onto consumers. Under the EPR scheme, producers must report how much packaging they put into the market and pay associated rates per tonnage. The ...

Core Insights - The American Chemistry Council (ACC) emphasizes the need for a national standard for recycled plastics in the U.S. to enhance efficiency in plastic waste recycling and reduce costs, thereby improving competitiveness in a market with an oversupply of virgin resin [1] - The ACC's plan aims to simplify the process of recycling waste plastics into recycled plastics, addressing issues such as inconsistent quality, high costs, and production challenges faced by brands and processing companies [1] Summary by Categories National Standards and Recycling - The ACC highlights the urgent need for a national standard for recycled plastics to ensure participation from all American households in the recycling system, clarify definitions of "recycled plastic" and "recycled content," and expand and upgrade recycling infrastructure [1] - Currently, seven states have passed producer responsibility (EPR) related plastic packaging laws, and five states have independent laws requiring minimum recycled content in plastic products [1] Regulatory Challenges - The lack of a national policy has led to a patchwork regulatory system across states, increasing compliance costs for businesses [1] - There are 25 states that classify chemical recycling as a manufacturing process, but the inconsistent state-level regulations continue to raise compliance costs for companies [1] Global Engagement - The ACC has communicated the importance of U.S. participation in global plastic treaty negotiations to the new Trump administration, with encouraging responses received [2] - The U.S. has sent representatives to most preparatory meetings for the treaty and is expected to attend the fifth round of United Nations negotiations in Geneva from August 5 to 14, 2025 [2]