2026 is reshaping packaging, print and publishing — quietly, but significantly

Most organisations across publishing, print and packaging don’t have a sustainability problem.

They have a strategy problem.

UK packaging regulations in 2026, particularly Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), are changing how businesses in print, publishing and packaging manage cost, compliance and design.

For years, sustainability has sat comfortably under CSR — important, but often separate from core commercial decision-making. That separation no longer exists.

In 2026, packaging has become something else entirely: a cost driver, a compliance requirement, and a competitive differentiator.

And for many organisations, this shift is happening faster than expected.

The introduction of the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme has fundamentally changed how packaging decisions are made. Costs are no longer fixed or predictable in the same way. They are now directly influenced by design choices — the materials used, how recyclable they are, and how much of them you put into the market.

This creates a very different dynamic.

Packaging is no longer just about protection, branding or logistics. It is now something that can quietly increase costs across the business if it is not properly understood or managed.

At the same time, expectations are increasing. Data requirements are more detailed. Reporting is more frequent. And scrutiny — from regulators, customers and partners — is growing.

For organisations in publishing and print, this shift reaches further than many initially expect.

It’s not just about packaging teams. It touches paper sourcing, supplier relationships, print specifications, and increasingly, the quality of the data sitting behind all of it.

A print run, a book, a magazine, or a piece of branded packaging is no longer just a physical product. It carries with it material choices, environmental implications, and now, financial consequences tied to compliance.

This is where many organisations are currently exposed — not because they are doing nothing, but because systems, data and decision-making are not yet fully aligned.

Across the market, a pattern is emerging.

Some organisations are still designing packaging primarily for aesthetics or legacy specifications. Others are assuming that moving to paper automatically solves the problem. Many are still treating data as something to deal with later.

But under EPR and wider regulatory pressure, these assumptions are becoming expensive.

Costs increase. Reporting becomes more complex. And opportunities to optimise are missed.

At the same time, a smaller group of organisations is taking a different approach.

They are stepping back and asking better questions.

Instead of asking, “Is this sustainable?”, they are asking:“How does this design decision impact our cost, compliance and long-term risk?”

Instead of treating sustainability as a reporting exercise, they are embedding it into design, procurement and operational thinking.

They are simplifying materials. Reducing unnecessary weight. Improving recyclability. And importantly, building better visibility over their data so decisions are informed, not reactive.

The result is not just better compliance — it is better commercial performance.

What we are seeing now is a clear shift.

Sustainability is moving from being a message to being a mechanism.

A mechanism for reducing cost.A mechanism for managing risk.And increasingly, a mechanism for winning work.

Because as larger organisations strengthen their own ESG requirements, they are looking more closely at their suppliers. Print and packaging partners who can demonstrate control, transparency and optimisation are becoming more valuable.

This creates a quiet but important divide.

Some organisations will absorb rising costs without fully understanding why.Some will see margins tighten over time.Others will adapt early, redesign intelligently, and strengthen their position.

Which leads to a more useful question than most are currently asking:

Are you managing packaging for compliance…or are you managing it for commercial advantage?

For organisations in publishing, print and packaging, this is an opportunity to step back and reassess.

Not just to ensure compliance, but to understand where cost exposure exists, where efficiencies can be gained, and how sustainability can be used more strategically.

Because the organisations that act now will not just keep up with regulation — they will be better positioned because of it.

At CSR Consultants, we work with organisations across publishing, print and packaging to help them navigate this shift — from understanding regulatory exposure through to building practical, commercially focused sustainability strategies.

If this is something you are starting to explore, or already feeling the impact of, it’s a conversation worth having.

FAQ's

What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging in the UK?Extended Producer Responsibility is the UK system that makes obligated organisations report packaging data and, where applicable, pay fees based on the packaging they place on the market.

How does EPR affect print, publishing and packaging businesses?It affects businesses through packaging data collection, reporting obligations, material choices, recyclability considerations, and potentially higher costs where packaging is harder to recycle or uses more material.

Do businesses need to collect detailed packaging data?Yes. UK guidance requires affected organisations to collect detailed packaging data, and the official guidance was updated again in March 2026.

What is the Plastic Packaging Tax threshold for recycled content?Plastic Packaging Tax applies to plastic packaging components with less than 30% recycled plastic, subject to the tax rules and scope.

Does paper packaging automatically count as sustainable?Not necessarily. Sustainability and compliance depend on the full packaging design and supply chain context, including coatings, composite materials, recyclability, and wider regulatory requirements. The EU PPWR also introduces broader sustainability and labelling requirements across packaging.

Why should publishers and printers review packaging strategy now?Because packaging decisions increasingly affect compliance, reporting workload, and cost exposure. Early review can help reduce unnecessary material use, improve recyclability, and strengthen data readiness.

Need help understanding how EPR affects your print or packaging strategy?

References

• UK Government – Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging

• UK Government – Packaging Data Reporting Requirements

• UK Government – Plastic Packaging Tax Guidance

• PackUK – EPR Fees and Modulation Statements

• EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

• Industry Guidance (Valpak, Clarity, GWP)