Government announces PPT changes and publishes response to plastic recycling consultation, FPC reports
Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) will increase in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 1 April 2025, the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) reports.
The new rate of PPT will be £223.69 per tonne and will apply to plastic packaging containing less than 30 per cent recycled plastic that is manufactured and imported into the UK from 1 April 2025, it said on its news site.
The change was announced in the Budget (30 October), and coincided with the publication of the government’s response to an industry consultation on how to recycle plastic packaging.
According to the FPC, the consultation sought views on allowing a mass balance approach (MBA), the different mass balance models, and the use of certification schemes to track recycled plastic through the plastics value chain.
It also considered the exemption from PPT for the immediate packaging of human medicines if an MBA is permitted, and the treatment of pre-consumer waste as recycled plastic for the purpose of the tax.
The government response confirmed an MBA will be allowed to account for chemically recycled plastic for the purposes of PPT from a future date to be determined.
It also confirmed that at the same time the changes for MBA are introduced, pre-consumer waste will no longer be classified as recycled plastic for the purpose of PPT, closing a loophole that gives some businesses an unfair competitive advantage.
In its article, the FPC advised members that no action is needed at this stage.
Further engagement with key stakeholders will take place to develop the technical details before confirming when the changes will come into effect, the FPC said.
