The UK Government has just announced new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) base fees—and they send a clear message about where packaging regulations are headed.
Most notably, aluminium packaging has seen a 39% reduction in its base fee since December 2024, now ranking among the lowest-cost materials for producers.
So why should U.S. businesses care?
While EPR isn’t yet federal law in the U.S., states like California, Oregon, Colorado, and Maine have already passed EPR legislation targeting packaging waste. These programmes shift the cost of recycling and disposal from municipalities to the companies that put packaging on the market.
More states are exploring similar policies—and as global brands demand alignment, U.S. suppliers are being held to new standards of compliance, transparency, and recyclability.
Aluminium is gaining traction not just for its functionality—but because it fits the new regulatory and environmental landscape. It’s:
Infinitely recyclable without loss of quality
Widely recovered in existing infrastructure
Oven, air fryer, freezer and shelf-ready
Lighter and more durable than fibre
Backed by strong consumer perception around recyclability
With the UK recognising aluminium’s circular benefits through reduced EPR fees, we expect similar logic to follow in the U.S.
📉 Aluminium = lower future compliance costs + higher material value + better consumer alignment.
At EP Group USA, we’re already helping brands:
Audit and adapt pack formats to align with recyclability targets
Replace fibre or plastic trays with cost-efficient aluminium solutions
Stay ahead of coming EPR legislation in the U.S.
Reduce operational waste through smart design and logistics support
We’ve worked with major food manufacturers, QSRs, meal kit brands, and grocers to create packaging that performs in the kitchen and in the recycling system.
EPR isn’t a question of if—it’s when. And those who plan now will avoid the compliance scramble later.
✅ Aluminium is already the smart choice.
✅ The UK’s fee structure proves it.
✅ We’re here to help you transition.