Table of Contents
- How EPR Applies to Agriculture
- Obligation Thresholds
- Agricultural Packaging Types
- EPR Fee Estimates
- Data Collection for Agri-Suppliers
- Reducing EPR Costs
- Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Agricultural suppliers with £1M+ turnover and 25+ tonnes of packaging are obligated under packaging EPR.
- Large-format sacks and bags (25kg-1000kg) for seed, feed, and fertiliser represent the bulk of agricultural packaging tonnage.
- Chemical containers (pesticides, herbicides) carry additional hazardous waste handling requirements alongside EPR obligations.
- Plastic silage wrap and crop covers are generally NOT packaging under EPR — they are agricultural film and have separate recycling obligations.
- Switching from woven PP sacks to paper bags can reduce EPR fees on eligible product lines.
How EPR Applies to Agriculture
Agricultural suppliers provide farmers with seeds, fertiliser, animal feed, crop protection chemicals, and farm equipment. The packaging for these products — from 25kg paper sacks to 1000kg bulk bags — generates substantial tonnage.
Under UK packaging EPR, agricultural supply businesses must account for the packaging they place on the market. The sector has some unique characteristics: large single-material packaging formats, seasonal demand patterns, and products that blur the line between packaging and agricultural consumables.
For an overview of EPR, see what packaging EPR is.
Obligation Thresholds
- Annual turnover of £1 million or more
- Handle 25 or more tonnes of packaging per year
Agricultural supply businesses easily exceed the tonnage threshold. A fertiliser supplier distributing 10,000 tonnes of product in 25kg paper sacks generates approximately 100 tonnes of sack packaging alone.
See who needs to register for full criteria.
Agricultural Packaging Types
Primary Packaging
- Paper sacks — 25kg bags for seed, fertiliser, animal feed
- Woven polypropylene (PP) sacks — 25kg-50kg bags for fertiliser, feed, grain
- Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs) — “big bags” (500kg-1000kg), woven PP
- HDPE containers — 5L-20L chemical containers (pesticides, herbicides)
- Drums — 200L steel or plastic drums for bulk chemicals
- Tins and cans — smaller chemical products
- Seed packets — paper or plastic sachets for retail and small-holding use
- Shrink wrap — wrapping bales of product
Secondary Packaging
- Cardboard boxes — for retail products and smaller items
- Shrink wrap — bundling smaller bags
Transit Packaging
- Stretch wrap — pallet wrap
- Wooden pallets — standard transit format
- Strapping — securing sacks to pallets
- Corrugated boxes — shipping containers for smaller products
What Is NOT Packaging
Important distinctions for agriculture:
- Silage wrap — plastic film used to wrap silage bales is NOT packaging (it is a product used in farming)
- Crop covers and mulch film — agricultural film, not packaging
- Twine and netting — used on bales, these are products, not packaging
- Horticultural pots over a certain size — large nursery pots may be classed as products
However, these agricultural plastics may have separate recycling obligations outside of packaging EPR.
EPR Fee Estimates
| Material | Fee per tonne (approx.) | Agricultural Use |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | £215 | Paper sacks |
| Woven PP | £360 | Woven sacks, FIBCs |
| HDPE | £360 | Chemical containers |
| Steel | £210 | Drums, cans |
| Corrugated card | £215 | Boxes |
| Plastic film | £360 | Stretch wrap, shrink wrap |
| Wood | £215 | Pallets |
A mid-sized agricultural supplier handling 200 tonnes of packaging might face EPR fees of £50,000 to £70,000 annually.
See the EPR fees by material type guide for the complete schedule.
Data Collection for Agri-Suppliers
Practical Approach
- Start with your top 20 products by volume — these will account for the majority of packaging tonnage
- Weigh empty packaging for each major product format (25kg sack, 50kg bag, FIBC, etc.)
- Use purchase order data to count packaging units purchased from your sack/bag supplier
- Track chemical containers separately — these have additional regulatory tracking
- Include transit packaging — pallet wrap, strapping, and pallets
- Allocate nation data using delivery addresses
Seasonal Patterns
Agricultural supplies are heavily seasonal:
- Spring: Seed, fertiliser, crop protection chemicals peak
- Autumn: Autumn planting, animal feed stocking
- Winter: Quieter period for most supplies
Ensure your annual tonnage calculation covers the full seasonal cycle.
For detailed data collection methodology, see how to weigh packaging for EPR.
Reducing EPR Costs
1. Switch from Woven PP to Paper Sacks
Where product characteristics allow (dry, non-moisture-sensitive products), paper sacks attract a lower EPR fee rate (£215/tonne vs £360/tonne). Many fertiliser and feed products can be packed in multi-wall paper sacks.
2. Optimise FIBC Weight
FIBCs (big bags) can vary significantly in weight. Specifying lighter-weight FIBCs (where load-bearing requirements allow) reduces plastic tonnage.
3. Implement Container Return Schemes
For chemical containers (pesticides, herbicides), industry return schemes exist. Returned and recycled containers may qualify for reduced EPR obligations.
4. Reduce Pallet Wrap
Agricultural products are often double or triple wrapped on pallets. Modern pre-stretched films can provide the same stability with less material. Investing in powered pallet wrapping equipment pays for itself through material and EPR savings.
5. Consider Bulk Delivery
Where customers can accept bulk delivery (e.g., loose fertiliser in tankers rather than bagged), the packaging is eliminated entirely.
Chemical Container Compliance
Agricultural chemical containers have additional compliance requirements beyond EPR:
- Hazardous waste regulations apply to containers that have held pesticides
- Triple rinsing is required before containers can enter recycling streams
- Industry schemes (like those operated by crop protection associations) handle collection and recycling
Ensure your EPR reporting for chemical containers is coordinated with your hazardous waste management procedures.
Getting Started
- Verify your obligation using the EPR compliance checklist
- Audit your major packaging formats — sacks, bags, containers
- Register with a compliance scheme
- Submit data through DEFRA’s RPD portal
- Evaluate packaging alternatives for cost reduction
Use the EPR fee calculator and explore our pricing for compliance management.