UK Plastic Tax 2022

It’s what every business is talking about currently and it's going to affect everyone. But what is the plastic tax? And will it affect you and your buying habits? Our Proverb team have broken it down for you: here is everything you need to know about the UK plastic tax.

What is the Plastic Packaging Tax

The UK plastic tax will come into force on 1st April 2022 and will be charged at a rate of £200 per tonne. For business, this means that if you use plastic in your packaging that contains less than 30% recycled plastic, you will be charged £200 per tonne of plastic that you manufacture. It’s important to remember that plastic packaging tax only applies to manufacturers and importers of plastic packaging. 

How Does UK Plastic Tax Affect Businesses

Over the past year, many brands have been re-designing their packaging to contain a minimum of 30% recycled plastics. This may have caused trouble for bigger brands that have high production rates, as everyone would be after the same materials and manufacturers. 

One of the results of the plastic packaging tax is that potentially brands saw their production costs increase in order to reach the 30% recycled plastics requirement before the UK plastic tax 2022 came into force. 

The plastic tax also affects businesses if they couldn’t comply with the new UK government guidelines. Per the rules, they might find themselves having to pay £200 per tonne of plastic that they manufacture. 

How Will Plastic Packaging Tax Affect Me

As a consumer, you should not see a direct effect of the UK plastic tax on your buying habits. However, there’s the potential that brands may increase the price of their products to maintain the profit they had before when they were using cheaper non-recycled plastic. In addition, brands may have taken the approach of redesigning their packaging completely, so you may see new packaging launched over the coming month.

As a result of the plastic packaging tax, you may see a surge in outlet shops such as TK Maxx and Homesense selling older packaging of some of your favourite brands. Similarly, businesses may decide to apply discounts to their old packaging before launching the new and improved, eco-friendlier version. 

How is Proverb Adjusting To The UK Plastic Tax

Here at Proverb, we are committed to refillable packaging, with our natural skincare moving to plastic-free “reloads”, alongside our refillable deodorant packaging being completely recyclable, as well as compostable skincare sample paper wraps. 

We have also changed the plastic pumps on our best selling cleanse and shave mud and face scrub to aluminium tubes which are substantially easier to recycle. Our new glass skincare bottles for the Proverb moisturisers and serum come with a pump on your first order but all ongoing orders have a tiny aluminium cap to ensure you reuse your old pump. 

Have any more questions about the UK plastic tax 2022? Take a look at the gov.uk website. Check out the Proverb blog for all the latest organic skincare and natural beauty news.