May 13, 2025 (Packaging News) –
The British Plastics Federation (BPF) is calling on companies to alert authorities to anyone making false claims about recycled content in plastic products.
The trade association expressed concern that firms are misrepresenting the amount of recycled plastic used to avoid paying the plastic packaging tax (PPT), which applies to products with less than 30% recycled content.
BPF sustainability manager Helen Jordan said fraudulent actors were making it harder for legitimate companies to survive.
“Let’s remember that almost all companies have integrity and always try to act according to the law,” said Jordan.
“However, a few bad actors can potentially tarnish the reputation of the entire industry and blight the image of recycled plastics in the eyes of the public.”
PPT was introduced in 2022 and is currently charged at £217.85 per tonne. For 2023/2024, Defra reported that the portion of plastic packaging above the 30% recycled threshold grew to 46%, up from 40% the year before.
Industry groups have argued the tax is not providing sufficient support to the recycling sector, with the Environmental Services Association saying it should rise to £500 with a 50% recycled content threshold by 2030.
In a position paper issued last October, recycling charity Recoup said poor enforcement was allowing imported products to evade the tax, calling for urgent action to prevent a “collapse” in UK plastic recycling.
The BPF reiterated calls for a verification or certification scheme to reduce fraud, arguing that a national – or an international – system like this would ensure a level playing field for those following the rules.
“We’d like the government to encourage investment in improving the UK’s plastic recycling infrastructure while also taking steps to minimise opportunities for fraud,” continued Jordan.
“We call on companies to report any instances of fraud they encounter to the Environment Agency so that appropriate measures can be taken against them. The more fraud is reported, the more it will be on the minds of those in government.”
The Federation said it hoped the issue would receive a higher profile among MPs, noting that it had shared its concerns with the Treasury last year.
This story was originally published by our sister title, Materials Recycling World.
The post British Plastics Federation calls on companies to report recycling fraud appeared first on Packaging News.
Copyright (c) 2025 Metropolis International Group. All rights reserved.
* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistribute or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.