London Packaging Week hosts first major industry discussion since EPR launch

Leading experts from Defra, PackUK, and the Food & Drink Federation will discuss how recent packaging reforms, including EPR and DRS, are set to transform recycling and drive the circular economy.

London Packaging Week 2025 will host a pivotal discussion on the future of packaging in the UK, just weeks after Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fully launched in early October. The Government-led session, ‘Defra and PackUK: How packaging will pave the way to a circular economy’, takes place on Wednesday 15 October, from 1:00 to 1:45 PM on the Food & Consumer Stage. It will provide an unmissable opportunity for manufacturers, retailers, brands, policymakers, and sustainability professionals to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of packaging regulation.

This 45-minute session will bring together leading experts from Defra, PackUK, and the Food & Drink Federation to examine how packaging policy reforms are set to transform the UK’s waste management, collection, and recycling systems. Key topics include Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR), Simpler Recycling, and the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) - all designed to accelerate the transition to net zero. Attendees will gain insight into how packaging reform is not only an environmental imperative but also a strategic opportunity to deliver community benefits and stimulate economic growth.

pEPR requires businesses supplying or importing packaging to cover the costs of recycling and collection, funding local councils to expand recycling services. While environmental campaigners have welcomed the move as a way to increase recycling, industry groups such as the British Retail Consortium have warned that up to 80% of the new levy could be passed on to consumers, potentially driving higher food prices amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures. The Food and Drink Federation has forecast that food and drink inflation could reach 6% by December 2025, noting that the scheme costs UK businesses an estimated £1.4 billion per year alongside other regulatory and operational pressures.

Against this backdrop, the session will feature insights from Emma Bourne OBE, Director of Circular Economy at Defra, who will share her experience leading transformative resource and waste initiatives, including negotiating the EU Windsor Framework to secure Northern Ireland’s food supply. She will be joined by Claire Delaney, Deputy Director, Resources & Waste at Defra, who brings expertise in shaping national strategies for sustainable resource management. Jeremy Blake, CEO of PackUK, will discuss practical solutions from his extensive experience in recycling operations and the UK’s EPR scheme, while Jim Bligh, Director of Corporate Affairs and Packaging at the Food & Drink Federation, will provide an industry perspective on how well-functioning EPR and DRS schemes can deliver both environmental and economic value.

In addition to the session, London Packaging Week 2025 will feature the DEFRA / PackUK Clinic, launched in January 2025, which gives attendees direct access to experts for guidance on UK packaging regulations, EPR, and environmental compliance. The Clinic will run on Wednesday 15 October, from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Thursday 16 October, from 10:00 to 16:00, at the Food & Consumer Pack, Stand C54.

Josh Brooks, Divisional Director – Packaging Portfolio at Easyfairs, said: London Packaging Week represents a two-way gateway between industry, government, and leading brands, providing a space for dialogue, insight, and collaboration that drives meaningful change in packaging, sustainability, and the circular economy. Coupled with the quality and quantity of the already record-breaking conference agenda - and an expected audience of over 5,000 attendees, 200 exhibitors, and 80+ expert speakers - this pushes the two-day show well and truly into unmissable territory.

London Packaging Week 2025, taking place at London’s Excel on 15 & 16 October, offers manufacturers, retailers, brands, policymakers, and sustainability professionals a platform to explore innovation, regulation, and sustainability in packaging. Register now to attend the Defra and PackUK session, which promises actionable insights for anyone looking to understand how recent reforms can drive a more sustainable and circular future.