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<p>The Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy for England published in December
last year sets out our plans to reduce plastic pollution and move towards a more circular
economy. This builds on the commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to eliminate
all avoidable plastic waste.</p><p> </p><p>Our priority is to prevent or reduce waste
in the first place. The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations already require
businesses, including online retailers, to ensure that all their packaging does not
exceed what is needed to make sure that the products are safe, hygienic and acceptable
for both the packed product and for the consumer. As part of the Resources and Waste
Strategy, we have committed to review the effectiveness of these regulations by the
end of next year. These regulations apply to those responsible for the packing or
filling of products into packaging and those importing packed or filled packaging
into the UK from elsewhere.</p><p> </p><p>We are also consulting on reforms to the
way we manage packaging waste. The reforms to the Producer Responsibility Obligations
(Packaging Waste) Regulations will require producers to fund the full net cost of
managing the packaging they place on the market, once it becomes waste. This creates
an incentive for companies, including obligated online businesses, to use less packaging
and to ensure that their packaging can be recycled at end of life as it will reduce
their costs in complying with the regulations.</p><p> </p><p>We have set out in our
consultation options for how we want to enhance the incentive for producers to make
better packaging design choices. The options are for a modulated fee system or a deposit
fee system. These options provide a financial incentive for producers, in addition
to the full net cost fees, to move towards using more easily recycled packaging materials
and formats.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this, the consultation also sets out a proposal
to require online marketplace businesses to ensure that the packaging that is sold
through their websites from outside the UK is compliant with the regulations.</p>
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