Metal packaging trade body calls for EPR fees to be revisited

The metal packaging trade body said it believes that the different packaging materials have not been adequately considered in setting the illustrative packaging EPR fees. 

It warned that this could have adverse impacts on the metal packaging sector in the way of increased metal packaging costs, job losses in the metal packaging sector, unintended changes in consumer and commercial behaviour, and ultimately “the loss of the iconic metal food can”. 

According to Defra, metal packaging has among the highest recycling rate of any packaging material in the UK at 76%. 

In a letter to the secretary of state for business and trade and the secretary of state for environment, MPMA has called on the government to interrogate its EPR for packaging fee structure. 

“Completely counter-productive to its own aims” 

Jason Galley, director and chief executive of the MPMA, said: “Our study of the illustrative packaging EPR fees shows that the base fees for metal cans are significantly higher than for containers made from less circular materials. 

“The difference in fees attracted by the different materials is high enough to drive brand and retailer purchasing behaviour towards less circular products. This will lead to steel cans being replaced by higher volumes of less circular materials which will need to be processed, while fee revenue is reduced. It would be a complete nonsense in direct opposition to the intention of EPR and is a perverse market distortion that threatens our sector. 

“Ultimately, this could lead to the loss of the metal food can, an iconic presence in kitchen cupboards, as manufacturers turn away from producing metal packaging which, despite its ability to be recycled over and over, could be priced out of the market. 

“It is MPMA’s view that it would be calamitous for a government sustainability scheme to endanger the UK’s food can business which provides food security and the ability to combat food waste. When you consider that metal packaging is the most recycled packaging material in the UK, the Defra policy is completely counter-productive to its own aims.”