The next major UK packaging EPR reporting deadline is midnight on 31st March 2026. This is when businesses will be required to report robust, evidence-based EPR data, including Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) outputs.
For many organisations, especially small producers, this represents a shift from initial awareness of regulatory requirements to full, practical compliance where systems, data quality, and reporting processes must be fully in place.
Who must report under the EPR scheme by 31st March 2026?
This next data submission deadline applies to both large and small producers.
What differs is the data reporting period:
- Large producers must submit packaging data for 1 July to 31 December 2025
- Small producers must submit packaging data for the full year: 1 January to 31 December 2025
What needs to be included in EPR reporting?
Your submission must reflect the packaging you supplied or handled during the reporting period, typically broken down by:
- Material type (e.g. plastic, glass, steel, aluminium, paper/card)
- Packaging category (e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary, or shipment)
- Weights, supported by a credible evidence trail
- Activity classifications set out in the reporting requirements (e.g. brand owner, importer, distributor, or seller).
- Recyclability of packaging components for large producers, categorised under the RAM assessment.
In practical terms, this means being able to generate a complete and consistent dataset, supported by traceable assumptions and a clearly defined methodology.
What happens if you miss the EPR reporting deadline?
Government guidance is clear that if you miss a submission deadline, you should contact your environmental regulator. Beyond that, late reporting could create difficulty proving your EPR compliance position to customers, procurement teams, or auditors. Non-compliance with UK packaging EPR can lead to significant financial penalties (from low-thousands up to millions), enforcement costs, possible criminal action, and increased regulatory oversight.
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