EPR for Jewellery Brands: Packaging Compliance Guide

Table of Contents

• How EPR Applies to Jewellery
• Obligation Thresholds
• Jewellery Packaging Types
• EPR Fee Implications
• Service Packaging
• Data Collection
• Reducing EPR Costs
• Key Takeaways

---

Key Takeaways

• Jewellery brands with £1M+ turnover and 25+ tonnes of packaging are obligated under packaging EPR.
• Presentation packaging (gift boxes, pouches, bags) is classified as packaging under EPR even though customers often keep it.
• Service packaging you add at point of sale (gift bags, tissue paper, ribbon) counts towards your EPR obligation.
• Jewellery packaging is typically lightweight per unit but the cumulative tonnage across large product ranges can surprise businesses.
• Luxury packaging materials (velvet inserts, laminated boxes) often attract higher fees due to their multi-material construction.

---

How EPR Applies to Jewellery

The jewellery industry places great emphasis on packaging — it is part of the brand experience. Presentation boxes, tissue paper, branded bags, ribbon, and premium shopping bags are all integral to the customer journey. Under UK packaging EPR, every one of these items counts as packaging and must be reported.

While jewellery packaging is lightweight per unit compared to, say, furniture or electronics, the cumulative tonnage across a full product range with multiple packaging layers can be significant — particularly for brands with high sales volumes.

For EPR basics, see what packaging EPR is.

Obligation Thresholds

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

Jewellery brands often assume they will not reach the 25-tonne threshold because individual items are small. But consider the full picture:

A jewellery brand selling 200,000 items per year with an average packaging weight of 100g (box, tissue, bag, label, outer mailer) generates 20 tonnes of primary and secondary packaging. Add transit packaging, seasonal gift wrap, and promotional materials, and the threshold is easily reached.

For full threshold details, see who needs to register.

Jewellery Packaging Types

Primary Packaging

• Ring boxes, earring boxes, necklace boxes — card or plastic with foam or velvet inserts
• Branded pouches — suede, velvet, or cotton drawstring bags
• Tissue paper — wrapping individual items
• Anti-tarnish strips — paper or cloth strips in boxes (these are packaging)
• Polybags — protecting items during transit
• Branded stickers and seals — closing tissue or boxes

Secondary/Presentation Packaging

• Gift bags — premium branded bags for in-store purchases
• Ribbon and bows — decorative packaging elements
• Gift boxes — outer presentation boxes
• Greeting cards — if supplied with the product as part of a gift set

Service Packaging

• Shopping bags — carrier bags provided at point of sale
• Gift wrap — wrapping service offered to customers
• Tissue paper — used for in-store wrapping

Transit Packaging

• Corrugated boxes — shipping cartons
• Void fill — protecting items in transit
• Bubble wrap — for fragile items
• Padded mailers — for e-commerce shipments
• Stretch wrap — pallet wrap for bulk deliveries

What Counts as Packaging?

A common question in jewellery: is the presentation box packaging?

The answer under EPR is generally yes. Even though customers may keep the box, it is supplied with the product to contain and present it, which meets the definition of packaging. The ring box, the velvet pouch, the branded bag — all are packaging.

EPR Fee Implications

Material	Fee per tonne (approx.)	Jewellery Packaging Use
Paper/card	£215	Boxes, tissue, tags
Plastic (rigid)	£380	Plastic boxes, trays
Plastic film	£360	Polybags, bubble wrap
Multi-material	£461	Laminated boxes, foil-stamped card
Cotton/fabric	£215*	Pouches (classified as “other”)
Corrugated card	£215	Shipping boxes

*Note: Fabric pouches are classified under “other” materials. Check current guidance for the applicable rate.

A jewellery brand handling 40 tonnes of mixed packaging might face EPR fees of £10,000 to £18,000 annually.

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

Service Packaging

Jewellery retailers often provide substantial service packaging:

• Premium shopping bags — branded paper or fabric bags
• Gift wrapping — paper, ribbon, and tissue for gifts
• Gift boxes — optional premium boxes offered to customers

Under EPR, service packaging you supply to customers at the point of sale is your obligation. You must track the quantity of carrier bags, gift wrap, and gift boxes you distribute.

Carrier bags in particular have been subject to charges (currently a minimum 10p per bag). The EPR obligation is in addition to any bag charge requirements.

Data Collection

Approach

1. List every packaging item you use — boxes, pouches, bags, tissue, labels, stickers, mailers
2. Weigh each item — many jewellery packaging items weigh only a few grams, so use a precision scale
3. Count annual usage — use purchase order data from your packaging supplier
4. Include service packaging — carrier bags, gift wrap, ribbon
5. Track e-commerce packaging — mailers, boxes, void fill

Common Oversights

• Anti-tarnish materials inside boxes
• Branded stickers and seals
• Ribbon and decorative elements
• Tissue paper (surprisingly heavy in aggregate)
• Returns packaging — if you provide a returns pouch or box with the order

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

Reducing EPR Costs

1. Simplify Presentation Packaging

Luxury brands often use multiple packaging layers (tissue, box, bag, outer box). Evaluate whether each layer genuinely adds value or could be simplified.

2. Switch from Laminated to Unlaminated Card

Laminated (matt or gloss finish) cardboard boxes are multi-material and attract higher fees. Uncoated or UV-varnished card is single-material and recyclable, attracting lower fees.

3. Replace Plastic Boxes with Card

Some jewellery brands use plastic presentation boxes. Switching to cardboard moves the material from £380/tonne to £215/tonne.

4. Optimise E-Commerce Packaging

For online sales, right-size your mailers and reduce void fill. A padded paper mailer may suffice instead of a box with bubble wrap.

5. Reduce Tissue Paper Usage

Tissue paper tonnage adds up across thousands of orders. Use fewer sheets or switch to lighter-weight tissue.

Getting Started

1. Check your obligation with the EPR compliance checklist
2. Catalogue all packaging items including service packaging
3. Register with a compliance scheme
4. Submit data through DEFRA’s RPD portal
5. Review packaging for simplification opportunities

Estimate fees with the EPR fee calculator and visit our pricing page.