EPR for Craft and Hobby Retailers: Packaging Compliance Guide

Table of Contents

• EPR and Craft Retailers
• Obligation Thresholds
• Craft Packaging Types
• EPR Fee Implications
• Data Collection
• Reducing EPR Costs
• Key Takeaways

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Key Takeaways

• Craft and hobby retailers with £1M+ turnover and 25+ tonnes of packaging must comply with packaging EPR.
• Blister packs for small accessories and polybags for yarn and fabric are the most common packaging types in the sector.
• Craft kits with multiple packaged components create complex data collection requirements — each component’s packaging must be separately tracked.
• Own-brand and imported products carry the full EPR obligation; branded products from UK suppliers may be the supplier’s responsibility.
• Replacing blister packs with cardboard and eliminating excess polybags are the simplest routes to reducing EPR costs.

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EPR and Craft Retailers

The craft and hobby sector encompasses a vast range of products: yarns and fabrics, paints and brushes, beads and findings, paper and card, sewing supplies, model kits, and craft kits. Each product comes with packaging, and the variety of packaging types across a typical craft retailer’s range is enormous.

Under UK packaging EPR, retailers and brand owners meeting the obligation thresholds must account for the packaging they place on the market. For craft retailers, this means navigating a complex catalogue of thousands of small, individually packaged items.

For EPR background, see what packaging EPR is.

Obligation Thresholds

• Annual turnover of £1 million or more
• Handle 25 or more tonnes of packaging per year

Craft retail chains and large online craft retailers will typically exceed both thresholds. Even independent stores with £1M+ turnover may reach 25 tonnes when the full range of packaging across thousands of SKUs is aggregated.

See who needs to register for full criteria.

Craft Packaging Types

Primary Packaging

• Blister packs — small accessories, findings, tools, stencils
• Polybags — yarn skeins, fabric cuts, paper packs
• Cardboard boxes — craft kits, paint sets, tool sets
• Plastic pots and jars — paints, glitters, beads
• Glass bottles — inks, speciality paints
• Paper wraps and bands — around paper packs, card stock
• Shrink wrap — on individual items or multi-packs
• Tubes — cardboard or plastic tubes for rolled items

Secondary Packaging

• Cardboard outers — grouping items for wholesale
• Shrink wrap — multi-pack bundling
• Display stands — point-of-sale cardboard displays

Transit Packaging

• Corrugated boxes — shipping cartons
• Void fill — paper or plastic fill
• Stretch wrap — pallet wrap
• Bubble wrap — protecting fragile items (glass paints, ceramics)

EPR Fee Implications

Material	Fee per tonne (approx.)	Craft Retail Use
Paper/card	£215	Boxes, bands, tubes
Plastic (rigid)	£380	Pots, jars, blisters
Plastic film	£360	Polybags, shrink wrap
Glass	£192	Ink bottles, paint jars
Multi-material	£461	Laminated packs
Corrugated card	£215	Transit boxes

A craft retailer handling 60 tonnes of mixed packaging might face EPR fees of £16,000 to £24,000 annually.

See the EPR fees by material type guide for complete rates.

Data Collection

The SKU Challenge

Craft retailers face a particular data collection challenge: extremely high SKU counts. A typical store stocks 10,000-30,000 SKUs, each with different packaging.

Practical Sampling Strategy

1. Group products by packaging type rather than by product type:

   • “Small blister packed items” (beads, buttons, findings)
   • “Polybag packed items” (yarn, fabric, paper)
   • “Boxed items” (kits, sets)
   • “Plastic pots” (paints, glitters)

2. Weigh 5-10 samples from each group

3. Average the packaging weight per group

4. Use sales/purchase data to count total units per group

5. Calculate tonnage per material type

Own-Brand vs Third-Party

Determine which products are your EPR responsibility:

• Own-brand products — your obligation
• Imported products — your obligation
• Branded products from UK suppliers — likely the supplier’s obligation

For weighing methodology, see how to weigh packaging for EPR.

Reducing EPR Costs

1. Eliminate Blister Packs

Blister packs are one of the most expensive packaging types under EPR. For small items like buttons, beads, and findings, alternatives include:

• Paper envelopes with clear windows
• Cardboard cards with the product attached (e.g., buttons on card)
• Small cardboard boxes or tins

2. Reduce Polybag Usage

Not every skein of yarn or sheet of fabric needs a polybag. Consider:

• Paper bands instead of full bags
• No packaging for items displayed on shelves or pegs
• Thinner bag gauges where protection is genuinely needed

3. Optimise Craft Kit Packaging

Craft kits often contain multiple individually wrapped components inside a box. Evaluate whether each component needs individual packaging or could be loose within the kit box.

4. Minimise Display Packaging

Point-of-sale displays and cardboard stands are packaging under EPR. Use durable, reusable display fixtures instead of disposable ones.

5. Encourage Bulk Buying

Selling items (e.g., beads, sequins) in bulk rather than small individually packaged units reduces per-unit packaging weight.

Subscription Craft Boxes

Subscription craft boxes are a growing segment. If you operate a monthly craft subscription:

• The box and all internal packaging is your EPR obligation
• Each month’s packaging may differ — track per shipment
• Include void fill, tissue, and instructions

See our EPR for subscription box businesses guide.

Getting Started

1. Assess your obligation using the EPR compliance checklist
2. Group and sample your packaging by type
3. Register with a compliance scheme
4. Submit data to DEFRA
5. Review high-cost packaging for alternatives

Use the EPR fee calculator and explore our pricing page.