The UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) decision to delay the plastic packaging tax under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) by a year was taken under lobbying pressure from food industry bodies, according to meeting notes obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request. EPR was originally planned for implementation this month, but in July, the government announced it would not come into force until October 2025. The scheme will mean businesses must pay fees on plastic packaging data that is currently being collected.
