Table of Contents
- How EPR Applies to Bakeries and Cafes
- Obligation Thresholds
- Bakery and Cafe Packaging Types
- EPR Fee Implications
- Service Packaging Obligations
- Data Collection
- Reducing EPR Costs
- Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Bakeries and cafes with £1M+ turnover and 25+ tonnes of packaging must register for packaging EPR — multi-site chains are most likely affected.
- Service packaging (takeaway cups, bags, napkins, food containers) is the primary EPR obligation for food-service businesses.
- PE-lined paper cups are classified as multi-material packaging and attract the highest EPR fees at £461/tonne.
- Single-site independent bakeries are unlikely to reach the 25-tonne threshold but should still monitor their volumes.
- Switching from PE-lined cups to unlined or PLA-lined alternatives can reduce EPR costs where available.
How EPR Applies to Bakeries and Cafes
Bakeries and cafes occupy a unique position in EPR because much of their packaging is service packaging — packaging filled at the point of sale. When you hand a customer a paper bag, a coffee cup, or a takeaway container, you are placing packaging on the UK market.
For bakery chains and cafe groups with multiple outlets, the cumulative volume of service packaging can be substantial. A single busy cafe might use 500 cups, 300 bags, and 200 food containers per day — multiply that across 20+ sites and the annual tonnage becomes significant.
For background on EPR, see what packaging EPR is.
Obligation Thresholds
- Annual turnover of £1 million or more
- Handle 25 or more tonnes of packaging per year
Single-site bakeries and cafes with under £1M turnover are unlikely to be obligated. However, chains and franchise operations will typically exceed both thresholds.
Example calculation: A 15-site cafe chain using an average of 400 cups/day per site:
- 400 cups x 10g x 15 sites x 365 days = 21.9 tonnes of cups alone
- Add bags, food containers, napkin wrapping, lids, and transit packaging and the total easily exceeds 25 tonnes
See who needs to register for details.
Bakery and Cafe Packaging Types
Service Packaging (filled at point of sale)
- Hot drink cups — paper cups with PE lining
- Cup lids — plastic (PS or PP)
- Cup sleeves — corrugated card
- Cold drink cups — PET or paper-based
- Paper bags — bread bags, cake bags, pastry bags
- Takeaway food containers — card boxes, plastic containers, foil trays
- Napkins — wrapped napkin bundles
- Cutlery wrapping — paper or plastic sleeves
- Greaseproof paper — wrapping sandwiches, pastries
- Carrier bags — paper or plastic bags for takeaway orders
Primary Packaging (pre-packed products)
- Plastic film — wrapping bread loaves, cakes
- Cellophane bags — for biscuits, pastries
- Cardboard boxes — cake boxes, gift boxes
- Labels and stickers — product and price labels
Transit Packaging
- Corrugated boxes — for ingredient deliveries
- Plastic crates — often returnable from suppliers
- Stretch wrap — on palletised deliveries
- Paper and plastic sacks — flour, sugar bags
EPR Fee Implications
| Material | Fee per tonne (approx.) | Bakery/Cafe Use |
|---|---|---|
| Paper/card | £215 | Paper bags, boxes |
| PE-lined paper (cups) | £461 | Hot drink cups |
| Plastic (PS/PP) | £360-380 | Cup lids, containers |
| PET | £360 | Cold drink cups |
| Aluminium foil | £230 | Foil containers |
| Greaseproof paper | £215 | Sandwich wraps |
| Plastic film | £360 | Bread bags, cling wrap |
Hot drink cups are the most expensive item per unit weight because their PE lining makes them multi-material. A chain serving 1 million cups annually at 10g each generates 10 tonnes at £461/tonne = £4,610 in EPR fees from cups alone.
See the EPR fees by material type guide for all rates.
Service Packaging Obligations
For bakeries and cafes, service packaging is the core EPR obligation. Service packaging includes any packaging that you fill or use to wrap products at the point of sale.
Who Is Responsible?
- The cafe/bakery is responsible for service packaging it fills (cups, bags, containers)
- The packaging supplier may have separate obligations for the transit packaging in which they deliver empty cups/bags to you
- Franchise structures: The obligation typically sits with whoever purchases and supplies the service packaging — this may be the franchisor or the franchisee depending on the arrangement
What to Track
You need to track every piece of service packaging you use:
- Number and weight of cups (by type)
- Number and weight of bags
- Number and weight of food containers
- Lids, sleeves, stirrers, napkin wraps
- Carrier bags
Data Collection
Simple Method for Cafes
- Count packaging items ordered from your supplier each month (or quarter)
- Weigh one of each item on a kitchen scale
- Multiply count x weight for annual tonnage per item
- Classify by material
- Sum totals across all service packaging types
Multi-Site Chains
For chains, use your central purchasing data:
- Your procurement system will show exactly how many cups, bags, and containers you bought
- Get weight specifications from your packaging supplier
- Calculate tonnage centrally
For guidance, see how to weigh packaging for EPR.
Reducing EPR Costs
1. Encourage Reusable Cups
Reusable cup schemes directly reduce your cup packaging tonnage. Every reusable cup used is one fewer disposable cup in your EPR data. Many chains offer 25-50p discounts for reusable cups.
2. Switch Cup Materials
PE-lined paper cups attract the highest fees (£461/tonne). Alternatives:
- Unlined paper cups — for cold drinks where lining is not needed
- PLA-lined cups — may classify differently (check current guidance)
- Bagasse cups — fibre-based, potentially lower-rate
3. Reduce Bag Weight
Switch from heavier paper bags to lighter-weight options. A 2g reduction per bag across 500,000 bags annually saves 1 tonne.
4. Eliminate Unnecessary Packaging
- Do customers eating in need a bag? Offer plating instead
- Do cold drinks need a lid if provided with a straw? Consider eliminating lids for eat-in customers
- Replace wrapped napkins with dispensers
5. Right-Size Food Containers
Use containers appropriately sized for portions rather than defaulting to the largest option.
Overlap with Other Regulations
Bakeries and cafes should also be aware of:
- Single-use plastics ban — certain plastic items (stirrers, straws, plates) are banned in England
- Carrier bag charge — minimum 10p charge on single-use bags (separate from EPR)
- Food packaging regulations — food-contact material safety requirements
Getting Started
- Check your obligation against the EPR compliance checklist
- Audit your service packaging — cups, bags, containers
- Register if obligated
- Report data to DEFRA
- Explore reusable and lighter alternatives
Estimate fees with the EPR fee calculator and see our pricing page.