Plastic Tax & How to Avoid Paying

Plastic Tax & How to Avoid Paying

Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue. Discarded plastic packaging is building up across all parts of the planet, even littering remote locations where plastic has never been produced. The Plastic Tax aims to initiate change among plastic packaging manufacturers and importers. Will your business have to pay the Plastic Tax and how can you cut the costs?

Why do we Need to Reduce Plastic Packaging?

Plastic was first produced in the early 1900s and in the 1950s it was seen as a magical material. Packaging to furniture design were two industries where plastic was widely adopted. We have now reached the point where hundreds of billions of tonnes of plastic is produced every year. With current projections, the volume is expected to double by 2030.

The issue is that plastic does not biodegrade. Whilst methods of collection and recycling are being introduced, a high percentage of plastic waste ends up polluting the planet. What plastic does do is fragment. It breaks up into tiny particles which are unintentionally eaten by animals, fish and humans. In 2019, the Assessing Plastic Ingestion Report* revealed that we could each be swallowing 5g plastic a week, the equivalent of a credit card.

Global leaders are agreeing on measures to reduce plastic pollution. In the UK, one of the ways of tackling the issue comes into force in April 2022; The Plastic Tax.

Who is Liable for the Plastic Tax?

Any company handling more than 10 tonnes of plastic packaging a year has to register with HMRC. This includes plastic packaging manufactured in the UK, as well as that which is imported from overseas. Tax will be calculated at £200 per tonne, based on information supplied in quarterly returns.

It is important to understand that the volume of plastic includes primary and secondary packaging, as well as shipping materials such as plastic pallet wrap and stretch film. Multi-material packaging, which is predominantly plastic by weight is also covered.

The exception to the rule is any plastic packaging made from at least 30% recycled plastic. HMRC will require audited evidence to prove the content of recycled plastic. All recycled plastic used must also conform to BS and ISO standards. If evidence isn’t supplied, it will not be accepted as 30%+ recycled.

Specialist companies can assist with registering, calculating tax, completing paperwork. Aylesbury Box Company recommends Wastepack Group.

How to Avoid Plastic Tax Payments

No business can afford to pay out any more than necessary in the current economic climate, so how can you avoid paying?

Plastic Tax has been introduced to encourage businesses to take action in reducing plastic packaging. The best ways to avoid paying it, or reduce the amount paid, are to:

– Increase the volume of recycled plastic in packaging and provide a clear evidence trail

– Reduce the plastic content in primary, secondary and shipping packaging

– Switch to alternative packaging materials including corrugated cardboard, glass and aluminium

Cardboard Packaging Manufacturer – UK Based

As an established cardboard packaging manufacturer, Aylesbury Box Company has supported many UK businesses to reduce or remove plastic from their packaging. With an understanding of your products and how they are shipped and stored, we advise start-ups and established brands on paper-based alternatives to plastic packaging.

Corrugated cardboard is naturally protective, insulating and lightweight. These characteristics have made them the preferred option for shipping for decades. Unlike plastic, the majority of cardboard boxes are made from around 80% recycled material. They are widely collected for recycling in the UK and are fully biodegradable.

Alongside standard carton sizes, we manufacture bespoke boxes, designed to provide the perfect fit. This helps to speed up packing times, removes the need for void fillers, reduces damage in transit and enhances product presentation. With a range of print finishes, we can add branding and aesthetic appeal to retail packaging and shipping boxes.

To find out more, discuss your requirements and request samples, please contact the Aylesbury Box Company team on 01296 436888 or enquiries@abcbox.co.uk.

Our cardboard boxes are supplied flat-packed to aid storage and once made up and filled, they are sufficiently strong for stacking. To increase the strength of cardboard boxes, we can provide double-walled packaging, reinforce corners or integrate internal structures.

In addition to boxes, it is possible to buy cardboard tubes, paper-based fillers and even cardboard bottles. All are sustainable and provide a plastic tax-free packaging option.

* https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/plastic_ingestion_web_spreads.pdf