🌿 EPR Insights & Resources
Clear guidance, timelines, reporting rules, and practical tools designed to help UK SMEs stay aligned with DEFRA’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements.
EPR is evolving every year - adding new reporting duties, supplier-data checks, modulated fee structures, and upcoming labelling obligations.
This hub gives you clear, actionable insights to stay organised, avoid reporting errors, collect accurate packaging data, and stay audit-ready with DEFRA’s guidance.
Use these resources to plan ahead, reduce compliance risk, and stay informed all year round.
EPR has been phased in since 2021, expanding each year to include more materials, higher reporting accuracy, and modulated fees for recyclability.
By 2026, nearly all packaging producers and importers will face enhanced reporting duties and new labelling requirements under UK law.
🗓️ Key Deadlines & Reporting Cycles
Clear timelines to help you plan submissions and avoid missed deadlines.
Large Producers (semi-annual reporting)
H1 (Jan–Jun 2025) → submit by 1 October 2025
H2 (Jul–Dec 2025) → submit by 1 April 2026
Small Producers (annual reporting)
Data period: 1 January – 31 December
Submit by: 1 April of following year
Additional Details
All producers must register or renew by 1 April each year
Modulated fees (from 2026): multipliers based on recyclability (RAM ratings)
Packaging labelling: mandatory from 1 April 2027
Further regulatory updates are expected through 2026 as DEFRA finalises consultations
Challenges for SMEs
Data Gaps: Missing or inconsistent supplier declarations, unverifiable weights, or unclear material classifications
Weight Accuracy: Errors converting grams to tonnes, incorrect component-level weights, or misaligned splits
Changing Rules: Ongoing DEFRA updates to RAM bands, classifications, enforcement guidance, and labelling rules
Fee Forecasting: Complex 2026+ modulated fees driven by recyclability scores (Green/Amber/Red)
Resource Constraints: Many SMEs lack internal compliance capacity, increasing the risk of missed duties
How EPR Horizon Helps
Structured Reporting Support
Review and validate packaging data for completeness
Help prepare accurate, DEFRA-aligned submissions
Identify reporting risks and avoid common errors
Provide reminders and guidance to help you meet deadlines and stay compliant with reporting rules
Horizon Platform (Coming Soon)
Automated fee-scenario calculator
Real-time reporting dashboard
Supplier-data tracking with completeness checks
Structured around the data points required by DEFRA’s EPR guidance
