HMRC collected GBP 250m from the UK Plastic Packaging Tax in 2025-26, down 4% from GBP 261m the prior year, as the taxable share of plastic packaging fell to 37% from 41% in 2022-23. The government is evaluating whether the tax has driven the shift toward recycled content or whether other factors are responsible, while separately introducing mass balance accounting and certification rules for chemically recycled plastic from April 2027.
Why this mattersTaxable tonnage keeps falling, though HMRC cautions the data do not prove causation, while mass-balance rules from April 2027 add traceability cost across the plastics chain.
- HMRC collected GBP 250m in PPT receipts in 2025-26, down 4% from GBP 261m in 2024-25
- Taxable plastic packaging volume fell to 1.107m tonnes in 2025-26 from 1.399m tonnes in 2022-23
- Taxable share of plastic packaging manufactured in or imported into the UK fell from 41% in 2022-23 to 37% in 2025-26
- 51% of tonnage reported in 2025-26 met the 30% recycled-content threshold; 11% was exported, intended for export or converted
- 5,142 businesses were registered for PPT as of 13 August 2026
- The PPT rate is GBP 228.82 per tonne from 1 April 2026, and mass balance accounting becomes mandatory for chemically recycled plastic claims from 1 April 2027
Thais Fagury has taken over as president of Abralatas, the Brazilian aluminium beverage can association, after almost two decades in metal packaging including Abeaço, Prolata Reciclagem and ABRE's fiscal council. In an interview she set her short-term priority as making reverse logistics work across the whole chain under Brazil's National Solid Waste Policy, alongside extending cans into beverage categories that are under-developed in Brazil.
Why this mattersNew association leadership points to a push to extend cans into under-served beverage categories and to shape Brazilian reverse-logistics and low-carbon policy affecting metal packaging.
- Thais Fagury becomes president of the Associação Brasileira da Lata de Alumínio (Abralatas)
- She previously led Abeaço and Prolata Reciclagem and sat on ABRE's fiscal council, with almost two decades in metal packaging
- She is a food engineer specialising in packaging life cycles
- Short-term priority is more effective reverse logistics under Brazil's National Solid Waste Policy, with responsibility shared across can makers, fillers, retail, government, consumers and waste-picker cooperatives
- She identifies ready-to-drink coffee and single-serve chocolate drinks as can categories not yet fully developed in Brazil
- Canned water and ready-to-drink cocktails have already taken share in categories previously held by glass and PET
Finnish company Innomost has developed Suberinno Suberin, a barrier material derived from birch bark suberin, aimed at replacing fossil-based coatings in fibre-based packaging. The material targets moisture, grease and oxygen barrier properties for food and non-food paper and board packs. Innomost currently produces the material at its Kokkola, Finland facility and plans to build an industrial-scale plant within two to three years.
Why this mattersA commercially scalable bio-based multi-barrier coating could let paper and board packaging displace plastic laminates while meeting PPWR recyclability requirements.
- Innomost sources birch bark from an existing side stream of the Nordic forest industry.
- The product is marketed as Suberinno Suberin.
- It can provide moisture, grease and oxygen barrier properties in a single material.
- Production currently takes place at Innomost's facility in Kokkola, Finland.
- Innomost plans to build an industrial plant and scale production within two to three years.
- University of Oulu is separately developing suberin coatings with UPM and Metsä Board.
Specialty coatings supplier Stahl has launched its Senoprint metallic coatings portfolio worldwide, consolidating its previously North America-focused LustreCoat range under one global brand. The coatings offer silver and gold metallic finishes applied in-line during printing as an alternative to foil stamping, targeted at premium packaging and labelling. Stahl will present the range at LOUPE Americas 2026 in Chicago on 15-17 September 2026.
Why this mattersA recyclable in-line alternative to foil stamping could cut converters' decoration costs and support compliance with the EU's incoming PPWR recyclability requirements.
- Senoprint builds on Stahl's LustreCoat range, previously sold mainly in North America.
- Portfolio includes silver and gold metallic finishes, applicable via sheetfed, screen, flexographic and narrow-web printing.
- Available in UV-based and water-based formulations designed for de-inking and paper-recycling compatibility.
- Stahl will present Senoprint at LOUPE Americas 2026 in Chicago, 15-17 September 2026.
- Paul Grzebielucha is Group Director Packaging Coatings at Stahl.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation has released a Policy Platform proposing national settings for packaging design, labelling, recycled content and producer fees, to be delivered through the existing Covenant framework. The platform follows the Federal Government's decision not to introduce a new Commonwealth packaging scheme this term, and comes ahead of the 18 September Environment Ministers Meeting where nationally consistent action will be discussed.
Why this mattersA national EPR and labelling framework built on the existing Covenant would set compliance obligations and recycled-content demand signals for all brand owners selling into Australia.
- APCO's Policy Platform covers nine areas including governance, targets, producer fees, design standards and labelling
- Covenant participation has grown to more than 2400 brand owners
- The platform follows the Federal Government's decision not to introduce a new Commonwealth packaging scheme this term
- APCO supports mandatory use of the Australasian Recycling Label on consumer packaging
- APCO earlier this month joined the Australian Council of Recycling and Boomerang Alliance calling for nationally consistent EPR
- The Environment Ministers Meeting is scheduled for 18 September 2026
California's legislature has sent a package of packaging and recycling bills to Governor Gavin Newsom, including AB 2253, which would require recycled-content claims to be substantiated through documented chain-of-custody accounting rather than purchased credits. Newsom has until 30 September 2026 to sign or veto the bills; AB 2253 would take effect on 1 January 2030 if enacted. Separately, the federal PACK Act, which would pre-empt state recyclability-claim laws, advanced through committee, and an Oregon federal court ruling upholding that state's EPR law is being cited in litigation over California's SB 54.
Why this mattersA recycled-content verification standard, if signed, would force brand owners and resin suppliers to prove claims with certified supply-chain data rather than credits.
- AB 2253 was enrolled on 3 September 2026 and is on Governor Newsom's desk, with a 30 September 2026 deadline to sign or veto
- AB 2253 would require recycled-content claims to be substantiated through named chain-of-custody accounting models with written documentation, effective 1 January 2030
- The bill would bar substantiating claims by buying credits from third parties
- Opponents include Ameripen, the American Beverage Association, the American Chemistry Council, the Glass Packaging Institute and the Plastics Industry Association
- Supporters include the California Product Stewardship Council, Beyond Plastics, Republic Services, PureCycle and the Ecology Center
- The federal PACK Act (HR 6832) would set FTC-enforced national standards for recyclable, compostable and reusable claims, pre-empting state laws including California's
France's Ministry of Ecological Transition confirmed in September 2026 that it will not enforce a mandatory deposit return system for plastic bottles, opting instead for voluntary schemes at municipal level, extended producer responsibility and increased funding for local waste management. Local government associations France Urbaine, AMF, Intercommunalités de France and the Cercle National du Recyclage welcomed the decision, which followed a joint report by the IGF and IGEDD inspectorates concluding a deposit scheme would not improve plastic bottle recycling rates. The associations are now calling for working sessions to define alternative measures targeting a 90% collection rate and 315,000 tonnes of plastic bottles collected annually.
Why this mattersA major EU market abandoning mandatory bottle deposits shifts recycling policy toward EPR and municipal systems, affecting collection volumes and rPET supply for packaging producers.
- Announcement made in early September 2026 by France's Ministry of Ecological Transition
- Joint report by IGF and IGEDD concluded a deposit scheme would not improve overall plastic bottle recycling performance
- Target cited: 90% collection rate and 315,000 tonnes of plastic beverage bottles collected annually
- Alternative proposals aim to eliminate 5 million tonnes of plastic pollution and keep 38 million tonnes of household waste in the circular economy
- UK's Exchange for Change set producer fees at 0p from October 2027 to December 2028 for its deposit return scheme launching October 2027
- Sweden's Returpack/Pantamera scheme became first in Europe to receive RecyClass certification for PET bottle sorting
The Albanese government has told industry it will not introduce a promised Commonwealth packaging standards scheme in this term of parliament, citing cost-of-living concerns. The reform, agreed with states in 2023, would have set design rules on plastics use and packaging layers and made producers responsible for packaging across its life cycle. Environment minister Murray Watt said the government will instead work with states on harmonising existing packaging and recycling policy.
Why this mattersDelayed extended producer responsibility rules remove near-term regulatory pressure on Australian brand owners and packaging suppliers to redesign for recyclability.
- Packaging accounts for 59.5% of all litter reported in Clean Up Australia's annual litter reports.
- The federal-state packaging reform agreement dates to 2023 under then environment minister Tanya Plibersek.
- The federal environment department told industry via email last week that a new Commonwealth packaging scheme will not be introduced this term of government.
- Proposed rules would have restricted certain chemicals, excessive packaging layers and empty space in packaging.
- The government cited concern that reform costs could be passed on to consumers, for example in grocery prices.
- Industry bodies including the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation and Australian Council of Recycling said the decision leaves recyclers without policy certainty.
Maine's Department of Environmental Protection received zero proposals in its RFP to select a stewardship organization to administer the state's packaging extended producer responsibility law, leaving the program without an operator. Circular Action Alliance, which runs equivalent programs in six other states, declined to bid, citing misalignment with its operating model and data systems. The DEP said on 11 September 2026 it will revise the RFP, with no new implementation timeline set.
Why this mattersProducers selling packaged goods in Maine face continued uncertainty on registration, reporting and fee obligations, and multistate compliance planning stays unsettled.
- Maine's DEP received no proposals for its RFP to administer the state's packaging EPR program.
- Maine enacted the first statewide packaging EPR law in the US in 2021.
- Six other states (California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington) have since enacted packaging EPR laws.
- Circular Action Alliance, the stewardship organization in those six states, did not submit a bid for Maine's program.
- On 11 September 2026 the DEP emailed stakeholders saying it will revise the RFP, with no timeline yet given.
- An Oregon federal court recently rejected a dormant commerce clause challenge to Oregon's EPR law brought by the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors.
Etsy has launched a petition asking its marketplace sellers to press EU policymakers to harmonise Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging rules across Member States and create a simplified compliance pathway for low-volume cross-border sellers. The campaign, announced September 9 by VP of Customer Operations James Ossman, comes as the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has applied since August 12 alongside divergent national EPR registration systems. Etsy says it will submit collected signatures to EU decision-makers as the bloc works on the Circular Economy Act and Environmental Omnibus reforms expected later this year.
Why this mattersDivergent national EPR regimes raise compliance costs for cross-border sellers and marketplaces, a friction point packaging producers and EPR scheme operators will need to navigate as harmonisation is debated.
- Etsy posted the petition announcement on September 9, 2026, via VP of Customer Operations James Ossman.
- The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) began applying on August 12, 2026.
- Etsy updated its Seller Handbook on September 3, 2026 regarding varying national EPR obligations.
- Etsy currently collects EPR registration information for France, Germany and Spain.
- The Council of the EU discontinued negotiations on suspending some Authorized Representative EPR requirements in June 2026 after most Member States raised reservations.
- The Commission expects a more comprehensive EPR review under the planned Circular Economy Act later in 2026.
Sappi and UPM have nominated Gunnar Eberhardt as CEO and Stephen Blyth as CFO of their planned graphic papers joint venture, subject to regulatory clearance. The move comes after the European Commission issued a statement of objections roughly three weeks earlier, citing concerns that the merger could raise prices and reduce quality in communication papers. Sappi shareholders had already approved the deal with a 98.5% majority, and management aims to complete the transaction by the end of 2026.
Why this mattersRegulatory pushback on the Sappi-UPM graphic papers combination signals scrutiny that could delay or reshape a deal meant to consolidate a shrinking market.
- Gunnar Eberhardt nominated CEO and Stephen Blyth CFO of the planned Sappi-UPM graphic papers joint venture on 9 September 2026, subject to regulatory approval
- European Commission issued a statement of objections about three weeks earlier, citing risks of higher prices and lower quality in communication papers
- Sappi shareholders approved the joint venture with a 98.5% majority
- Sappi management targets completion of the transaction by the end of 2026
- Sappi reported Q3 adjusted EBITDA of USD 53m, down 34% year on year, within its July guidance
- Sappi has removed USD 120m of costs, half of it fixed-cost reductions mainly at European sites
Smurfit Westrock published results on 3 September from a study of consumer sorting of bag-in-box packaging (plastic bladder vs cardboard) at recycling sites in four European countries. France recorded the lowest separation rate at 67 percent, against 97 percent in Germany, 93 percent in Belgium and 87 percent in Sweden. The company attributes the French shortfall to collection systems that do not require cardboard-plastic separation, while producer responsibility body Citeo-Adelphe launched a sorting awareness campaign in December 2025.
Why this mattersLow sorting rates in France risk sending recyclable bag-in-box material to incineration, complicating compliance with the EU's 2030 PPWR recyclability requirements.
- Smurfit Westrock unveiled the study results on 3 September
- France's bag-in-box separation rate stands at 67 percent, the lowest of four countries studied
- Germany recorded a 97 percent separation rate, the highest among the countries studied
- Belgium recorded 93 percent separation and Sweden 87 percent
- At the Antwerp, Belgium site, 77 percent of collected bag-in-boxes came from the wine market
- Citeo-Adelphe launched a sorting awareness campaign in France in December 2025
Mexican beverage maker Grupo Jumex and Tetra Pak presented Jumex Nectar on 20 August 2026, a no-added-sugar nectar range in mango, apple and peach flavours, free of front-of-pack warning labels. It is the third such product the two companies have co-developed, following Unico Fresco in 2008 and Jumexito in 2024, and is packaged in Tetra Pak cartons.
Why this mattersCarton suppliers are positioning clean-label, sugar-reduction reformulation as a growth driver as Mexican brand owners respond to warning-label regulation and health-conscious demand.
- Jumex Nectar launched 20 August 2026 in mango, apple and peach flavours
- Product is free of added sugar and front-of-pack warning seals
- Third joint Jumex-Tetra Pak sugar-free product, after Unico Fresco (2008) and Jumexito (2024)
- 80% of Jumex products are packaged in Tetra Pak carton, per CMO Sergio Spinola
- 41% of consumers surveyed view carton packaging as the most environmentally friendly option, per Tetra Pak Mexico
The Flexible Film Recycling Alliance (FFRA), part of the Plastics Industry Association, began two commercial plastic film recycling pilots in California on 1 July, running through 30 November. One pilot in Sacramento uses 1-800-GOT-JUNK?'s commercial service routes for small and medium generators, while a second in Ontario/Inland Empire tests collection from large warehouse generators via Shorr Packaging's logistics network. Both use standardised "Rack n' Pack" collection systems, with material baled at regional aggregation sites before shipment to recycling markets; FFRA plans to use the results to design future programmes.
Why this mattersReliable data on commercial film capture rates and bale quality could help address the capacity and economics constraints that have recently closed US film recycling plants.
- Collection began 1 July 2026 and runs through 30 November 2026.
- FFRA operates under the Plastics Industry Association.
- The Sacramento pilot uses 1-800-GOT-JUNK?'s commercial routes for small and medium generators.
- The Ontario/Inland Empire pilot uses Shorr Packaging's warehouse logistics network for large generators.
- Both pilots use standardised 'Rack n' Pack' film collection systems to separate polyethylene at source.
- WM closed its Natura PCR plant in Texas last year, and a major Minnesota film recycling plant closed in 2024 before restarting under new ownership.
