Priory Direct

13/08/2026

⚠️ New packaging rules are now in force.

As of today, the EU's PPWR applies and UK EPR reporting is already live. If you ship packaged goods to the EU or Northern Ireland — or report under UK EPR — some of these obligations now apply to you.

We've been getting a lot of questions from customers, so here's the short version: for the packaging you buy from us, we can provide the material data, weights and documentation you need for your reporting.

✅ Request your data here: https://www.priorydirect.co.uk/about-us/epr-ppwr-compliance/

Not sure if it affects you? Start with our guides 👇
PPWR: https://www.priorydirect.co.uk/blog/eu-packaging-rules-ppwr-uk-exporters/
EPR: https://www.priorydirect.co.uk/blog/uk-epr-for-packaging-guide/

🌱 Bonus: not affected but want to switch to greener packaging anyway? Our Promoted Products range is the place to start → https://www.priorydirect.co.uk/eco-friendly-packaging/

25/06/2026

18/06/2026

We're hosting the Sustainability Cohort at RetailJam 2026 🌱

📍 Knebworth Park & Barns
📅 25 June

A day of honest conversations on the topics that matter most — EPR, circularity, AI, and staying authentic as you scale, with senior leaders from across UK retail.

Heading along? Come find us and say hello 👋

Read more about the day and the agenda over at retailjam.com

08/06/2026

The UK government has described its EPR and Deposit Return Scheme packaging reforms as a "generational shift" — and this week Defra put real numbers on it: £10 billion of projected new investment and 25,000 new jobs in the UK recycling sector.

For businesses, the practical implication is clear. Red-rated packaging under the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) already attracts higher EPR fees — and those penalties rise sharply by 2028. If you haven't audited your packaging against current RAM ratings, it's worth doing sooner rather than later.

We've put together a full breakdown covering what Defra said, what the consumer data shows, and four concrete steps any packaging buyer can take now.

https://www.priorydirect.co.uk/blog/epr-drs-generational-shift-uk-packaging-waste/

03/06/2026

📬 Received a "Failure to comply" letter from the Environment Agency about your packaging data?

You're not alone — the EA is actively contacting businesses that haven't submitted H2 2025 packaging data ahead of the 1 April 2026 deadline. The letter is a standard enforcement step, not a fine, but you have 14 days to respond.

Our new 5-step guide explains exactly what the letter means, how to respond, and — crucially — how to fix the underlying packaging mix that's driving your EPR exposure year after year.

✅ What the letter means
✅ Whether you're actually obligated
✅ How to respond within 14 days (with template wording)
✅ How to audit your packaging properly for next time

Read the full guide here: https://www.priorydirect.co.uk/blog/epr-non-compliance-letter-what-to-do/

29/05/2026

Six weeks ago, England's biggest household-waste reform in a decade went live. Every council is now legally required to collect paper and card as a separate stream — and the cost implications for businesses are real.

Cleaner fibre = higher RAM ratings, lower EPR fees, and packaging claims that actually stand up.

In the article: the full numbers behind Simpler Recycling, two quotes from our MD Josh Pitman, and five practical actions every UK packaging buyer should be taking right now.

Read it here → https://www.priorydirect.co.uk/blog/simpler-recycling-separated-paper-and-card/

22/05/2026

📦 We've launched a free weekly UK packaging cost tracker — and this week's data is live.
If you're responsible for packaging procurement or sustainability compliance, keeping on top of PRN prices, fuel costs and pEPR fees is increasingly important — and increasingly time-consuming. So we've done the work for you.

Every week we publish the UK Packaging Raw Material Price Tracker at priorydirect.co.uk/blog. Free, no signup required.

Week ending 15 May 2026:
• Plastic PRN: £336.66/t (new 2026 high — up 137% year-on-year)
• Paper PRN: £7.41/t (5th consecutive weekly rise)
• Diesel: 186.6p/litre (4th week of falls — transport cost relief on the horizon)

Follow our page to get the update each week.

15/04/2026

The UK Packaging Pact has officially launched — here's what it means for your business.

The new 10-year pact replaces the UK Plastics Pact and extends its scope to all packaging materials across every sector. 55 founding organisations have already committed, and with EPR now live, the cost of getting your packaging wrong is rising fast — plastic PRN prices are up 217% year on year.

Read our full guide to understand what's changed, what the RAM rating system means for your EPR fees, and what to review in your packaging spec now 👇

https://www.priorydirect.co.uk/blog/uk-packaging-pact-launch/