ERA accelerates EPR advancements

Once implemented, EPR will transfer the shared responsibility for the management of packaging waste to the packaging producers, who will have sole responsibility and pay the full cost of managing packaging once it becomes waste.

The goal of this policy, in line with the government’s new Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), is to reduce the quantity of packaging being produced and to increase the volume of recycled packaging being used.

Whilst Phase 1 of EPR has been delayed until after 2023, ERA is utilising this extended time period as an opportunity to further prepare for the legislation and work closely with window and door manufacturers to identify their liability and mitigate any potential cost implications.

Kerri Nadel, Sustainability Programme Manager at ERA, said: “Although the introduction of EPR has been pushed back, it is vital that window and door manufacturers continue to partner with suppliers who are actively responding to these legislative changes and altering their operations accordingly.

“Once Phase 1 of EPR has been introduced, businesses will have to report on household packaging produced throughout the previous year, with fabricators having to also include this data within their own reporting processes as part of their procurement and supply chain operations.

“It’s therefore extremely important that door and window manufacturers continue to form relationships with suppliers, such as ERA, who are already working to fulfil their responsibilities with regard to EPR and PPT, despite the extended deadline.”

ERA is currently working in close partnership with its customers on a ‘minimise, eliminate, replace’ strategy, which includes removing plastic from display packaging, in addition to optimising the use of sustainable materials across all packaging.

This forms part of its commitment to achieving 100% sustainable packaging by 2026, an obligation it committed to prior to the introduction of PPT and EPR. It has also pledged to eliminate waste to landfill by the same year.

As part of the Tyman Group 2030 Sustainability Excellence Roadmap, ERA is also working in partnership with its customers to implement the use of recycled material in place of any plastic that cannot be removed entirely, in addition to applying the principles of the circular economy to return as much waste packaging to its own sites, whilst also exploring reusable packaging options.

Kerri concluded: “The entire industry can only meet the government’s 2050 net zero targets if we work together to improve the sustainability of our operations throughout every stage of the supply chain. As one of the UK’s leading hardware providers, we understand the responsibility we have to not only reduce our own environmental impact, but assist window and door manufacturers in fulfilling their own sustainability journeys, and we encourage them to work with us now so that we can achieve real change.”