There is a new plastic packaging tax set to come into force in the UK on the 1st of April 2022. You need to register for thetTax if you’ve manufactured or imported 10 or more tonnes of finished plastic packaging components within the last 12 months, or will do so in the next 30 days
This won’t impact most ecommerce merchants as 10 tonnes is a massive amount of packaging, but it may will impact your suppliers or if you are a large retailer or brand it could impact you. However, watch out for price inflation as the tax starts to bite – it will be felt by industries that sell liquids shipped in plastic as well as those with blister packs and other forms of plastic packaging.
Packaging containing 30% or more recycled plastic is not chargeable for the tax. However, it still counts towards the 10 tonne threshold for packaging you manufacture or import in a 12 month period, and you must still keep records of it.
To find out more and check if you are subject to the new tax, visit the government Plastic Packaging Tax guidance.
EPR
As the world slowly moves along it’s path to a more sustainable future, expect ever more taxes on plastic packaging and other goods which have a detrimental impact. You should also be aware of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) tax which came into effect in France on the 1st of January and takes effect in Germany this summer. To find out more watch the session from Tamebay Live where Ellie Hanson from AVASK discusses the new tax and it’s implications on ecommerce:
