Specialist Lawyer Says Providing Accurate Data Is Crucial

Irwin Mitchell’s leading environmental lawyer, Jill Crawford, has issued a warning to retailers regarding the importance of accurate packaging data submission under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.

The EPR framework mandates that businesses are fully accountable for the end-of-life costs associated with their packaging, including collection, sorting, and treatment.

The deadline for organisations to submit their packaging data for the second six-month period was initially set for 1 April 2024. However, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) extended this deadline to 31 May.

Crawford emphasises that failure to meet these regulatory deadlines could result in significantly higher fees for businesses.

Speaking to Foodservices Footprint magazine, she also highlights the importance of providing accurate information.

Expert Opinion

“Accuracy is paramount. If companies do not provide precise data about their packaging, Defra will resort to using generic data. This could lead to a misrepresentation of the actual environmental impact of their products, potentially incurring higher fees than if accurate, company-specific reporting were provided.” Jill Crawford, environment lawyer at Irwin Mitchell

While small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were initially thought to be most at risk, it has become evident that some large corporations are also absent from the government’s list of major producers who have reported their data.

Irwin Mitchell urges all businesses within the scope of the EPR regulations to ensure the accuracy of their submitted data to avoid unnecessary financial burdens and to better reflect their commitment to environmental responsibility.