Reforming UK producer responsibility for packaging: Environmental Policy Forum
At the start of 2019, the Government held a consultation on reforming UK producer responsibility for packaging.
The Environmental Policy Forum sent a letter responding to the consultation, calling for an evidence-informed approach backed by data, transparency, and robust enforcement measures to ensure accountability.
As the IES supports action to embed a Circular Economy in decisions, our CEO Adam Donnan signed the letter in support. We also supported letters on the Deposit Return Scheme, a tax for plastic packaging, and household and business recycling.
More on the Circular Economy
Where to find out more
The Environmental Policy Forum is a coalition of professional bodies, including the IES, promoting environmental sustainability and resilience for the public benefit. It supports better policy decisions through joint letters and policy positions.
Though Extended Producer Responsibility has been implemented since 2019, there have been challenges in creating effective governance arrangements for resources. Read about the state of progress in 2026 in our gap analysis on environmental policy.
- If you want to stay up-to-date with the latest developments, make sure you are subscribed to Essential Environment.
- For more information about policy priorities, read our recommendations on the Circular Economy for the UK Government.
- Take a step towards developing your own policy skills through our training on ‘Understanding environmental policy’ and 'Influencing and Engaging with policy'.
- To support the delivery of policies in practice at a local level, see our Environmental Policy Implementation Community.
If you want to support the work of the IES, you can become an affiliate, or if you’re a professional in the environmental sector working with science, consider joining the IES.
Header image credit: © SpaceOak | Adobe Stock
