Let's not bottle this one up...

You may have heard the term EPR mentioned recently, especially if you buy bottles, jars, lids, caps or packaging for your work, craft, trade or business.

EPR stands for Extended Producer Responsibility. It is a UK packaging scheme designed to make businesses that place packaging on the UK market take more responsibility for the cost of collecting, sorting, recycling and disposing of that packaging once it becomes waste.

In simple terms, the rules are changing the way packaging costs move through the supply chain. As we supply glass jars, bottles, closures and the packaging needed to get them safely to you, these costs now affect many of the products we buy, pack and sell.

1. Who this affects

This information is mainly for customers buying packaging for a trade, craft, profession or business use.

That does not just mean large companies. It can include food producers, farm shops, delis, beekeepers, drinks producers, candle makers, hamper companies, hospitality businesses, event suppliers, makers selling at markets, and growing brands who need practical packaging for their products.

If you are buying bottles, jars or closures to fill, sell, supply, pack, gift, serve or use as part of your work, this article should help explain what is changing.

2. Why are we adding EPR charges?

Here at the Bottle Company, we always try to keep our prices as fair and competitive as possible.

However, EPR has introduced additional packaging costs across the industry. These costs can apply to glass, plastic, metal, cardboard, wood and other packaging materials.

These charges are not something created by us. They come from UK packaging regulations and are being applied throughout the supply chain, including suppliers, importers, manufacturers, wholesalers and trade customers.

We have held off for as long as we sensibly can, but we now need to include EPR-related packaging costs in our prices, quotations, cart and checkout where they apply.

We are still absorbing part of these costs where we can, because we know every penny matters for makers, small businesses and regular trade customers. We are also reviewing our range and will look to add more larger bulk-buy options where possible, helping customers reduce the unit price when buying in quantity.

3. Where will the EPR fee show?

Where an EPR fee applies, it will be shown in the cart and checkout before your order is completed.

This is to keep the charge clear and transparent, rather than hiding it within delivery wording or making product prices harder to understand.

For trade quotations or larger wholesale orders, EPR-related costs may also be shown separately on your quotation or invoice.

4. What types of packaging are affected?

EPR can apply to a wide range of packaging materials. For our customers, this may include:

1. glass jars and bottles;
2. metal caps and lids;
3. plastic closures and packaging;
4. cardboard boxes, dividers and layer pads;
5. protective packaging and pallet wrap;
6. wooden pallets used for larger deliveries.

So whether you are buying jam jars, honey jars, pickle jars, gin bottles, beer bottles, juice bottles, lids, corks or caps, EPR may form part of the overall cost of getting that packaging to you.

5. How are EPR costs worked out?

EPR costs are based on the type of packaging material and the weight of that material.

This means there is not one simple flat charge for every order. A glass jar, a metal lid, a plastic closure, a cardboard box and a wooden pallet all have different weights and sit in different material groups.

GOV.UK has confirmed 2025 to 2026 base fees for different packaging materials. For example, the base fee for glass is listed at £192 per tonne.

From 2026 onwards, the government also expects fees to be adjusted by recyclability. In plain English, packaging that is easier to recycle may be treated differently from packaging that is more difficult to recycle.

6. Does this affect trade and wholesale customers?

Yes, it can.

If you are buying packaging for products, production, resale, hospitality, events, gifting or another commercial use, it is worth taking a little time to understand EPR.

GOV.UK says an organisation may need to collect and report packaging data if it has an annual turnover of £1 million or more, is responsible for supplying or importing more than 25 tonnes of packaging to the UK market in a calendar year, and carries out a packaging activity.

Large organisations have further responsibilities. GOV.UK classes a large organisation as one with an annual turnover of £2 million or more and responsibility for supplying or importing more than 50 tonnes of packaging in the UK.

If your business may fall into these categories, please check the official guidance or speak with your compliance adviser.

7. Exemptions and customers taking responsibility for EPR

In some cases, an EPR fee may not need to be charged by us, or the responsibility may sit with the customer instead.

This may apply where:

1. your business is a large producer and is responsible for reporting and paying its own EPR fees;
2. the packaging is for a genuine non-household use and the required evidence can be provided;
3. the goods are being exported outside the UK;
4. another valid EPR responsibility route applies to your business.

Because EPR rules are evidence based, we cannot simply remove the fee without confirmation from you.

If you believe your order should be exempt, or if your business is responsible for the EPR on the packaging you are buying from us, please complete our declaration form before placing your order.

If we do not hold a valid declaration or supporting information, we have to price the order on the basis that EPR charges apply.

8. What about non-household packaging?

Some packaging may be classed as non-household, but this depends on the facts and the evidence available.

Government guidance says that primary and shipment packaging should usually be treated as household packaging unless the correct conditions are met and evidence is kept.

This means we may need extra information in certain cases, especially where packaging is not expected to end up in household or public bins, where goods are exported, or where a large producer is taking responsibility for the packaging.

If we do not have the right information, we have to price the order on the basis that EPR charges apply.

9. What will you see from us?

We will keep this as clear as possible.

Depending on the type of order, EPR-related costs may be shown in the cart, checkout, trade quotation or invoice.

Our aim is to:

1. keep increases as fair as possible;
2. absorb part of the cost where we reasonably can;
3. look for larger bulk-buy opportunities to help bring unit prices down;
4. stay transparent with customers;
5. follow the government rules properly;
6. continue supplying practical, reliable jars, bottles and packaging.

10. Need a hand?

If you are unsure whether EPR affects your order, or if you may have your own EPR responsibilities, please get in touch before placing your order.

Anna and the team will be more than happy to help point you in the right direction.

11. Useful government guidance

For more information, please see the official GOV.UK guidance:

1. EPR for packaging: who is affected and what to do
2. EPR for packaging: 2025 base fees
3. How to assess household and non-household packaging
4. EPR producer disposal fees modulation statement

Please note: This article is general information only and is not legal or compliance advice. Government guidance can change, so please check GOV.UK or speak with your compliance adviser if your business may have EPR reporting or payment responsibilities.