MAJORITY OF BRITONS UNSURE HOW TO RECYCLE PACKAGING

A new report highlights the confusion UK consumers face over recycling packaging, even as the country's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme aims to simplify the process.

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For millions of people across the UK, recycling is part of their daily life. The intention is there: the kitchen bin neatly divided, the labels glanced at, the plastic rinsed. Yet for all this effort, a surprising truth remains many people still have no real idea if they're getting it right. That's the sobering picture emerging from a new study conducted by sustainable packaging company Aquapak.

Released in June 2025, Aquapak's research uncovers a persistent and widespread confusion among British consumers over what can and cannot be recycled — despite the recent introduction of the government's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation. The survey shows that a staggering 70% of UK adults admit they don't know for sure whether certain types of packaging are recyclable. Even more concerning, only 10% say the recycling information provided on packaging is always easy to understand. More than half — 52% — confess that they find packaging labels clear only some of the time.