Table of Contents
- EPR and the Wine and Spirits Industry
- Obligation Thresholds
- Wine and Spirits Packaging Types
- EPR Fee Comparison
- DRS Interaction
- Data Collection
- Reducing EPR Costs
- Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Wine and spirits companies with £1M+ turnover and 25+ tonnes of packaging must register for packaging EPR.
- Glass bottles are the dominant packaging type and generate high tonnage — a standard 75cl wine bottle weighs 400-500g, meaning 100,000 bottles produce 40-50 tonnes.
- Glass has the lowest EPR fee rate (£192/tonne), but the sheer weight means total costs are still significant.
- Gift boxes, tubes, and seasonal packaging must all be included in your EPR data.
- Lightweighting glass bottles is the single most effective strategy for reducing EPR costs in the wine and spirits sector.
EPR and the Wine and Spirits Industry
The wine and spirits industry is one of the most packaging-intensive sectors by weight, primarily because of glass bottles. A single standard wine bottle weighs between 400g and 900g depending on the style, making glass the overwhelming contributor to packaging tonnage.
Under UK packaging EPR, producers, importers, and distributors of wine and spirits must account for all packaging placed on the market — bottles, closures, labels, capsules, and gift packaging.
For background, read what packaging EPR is.
Obligation Thresholds
- Annual turnover of £1 million or more
- Handle 25 or more tonnes of packaging per year
Wine and spirits businesses hit the tonnage threshold very quickly due to glass weight. A wine merchant importing 200,000 bottles per year at an average glass weight of 450g generates 90 tonnes of glass packaging alone — before counting closures, labels, and cases.
Wine and Spirits Packaging Types
Primary Packaging
- Glass bottles — the main tonnage driver (75cl wine, 70cl spirits, 50cl/1L variations)
- Closures — natural cork, synthetic cork, screw caps (aluminium or plastic)
- Capsules/foils — aluminium, tin, or plastic capsule over the closure
- Labels — paper front and back labels, neck labels
- Glass weight variation: Burgundy bottles (500-600g), Bordeaux (400-500g), Champagne (800-900g), spirits (400-700g)
Secondary/Gift Packaging
- Cardboard gift boxes — single and multi-bottle
- Tubes — cardboard or tin tubes for spirits
- Wooden boxes — premium wine and spirits
- Gift bags — paper or fabric
- Tissue paper — wrapping within gift sets
- Shredded paper fill — inside gift boxes
Transit Packaging
- Corrugated cases — 6-bottle and 12-bottle cartons
- Cardboard dividers — separating bottles in cases
- Stretch wrap — pallet wrap
- Wooden pallets — transit standard
- Edge protectors — for pallet corners
EPR Fee Comparison
| Material | Fee per tonne (approx.) | Wine/Spirits Use |
|---|---|---|
| Glass | £192 | Bottles (bulk of tonnage) |
| Aluminium | £230 | Screw caps, capsules |
| Cork (natural) | £215* | Natural cork closures |
| Paper/card | £215 | Labels, boxes, cases |
| Wood | £215 | Pallets, premium boxes |
| Plastic | £360 | Synthetic corks, capsules |
| Corrugated card | £215 | Transit cases |
*Cork is classified under “other” — check current rates.
Cost Example
A wine importer handling 500,000 bottles per year:
| Component | Weight per Unit | Total Tonnage | Fee Rate | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass bottles | 450g | 225 tonnes | £192 | £43,200 |
| Screw caps | 3g | 1.5 tonnes | £230 | £345 |
| Labels | 2g | 1 tonne | £215 | £215 |
| Capsules | 2g | 1 tonne | £230 | £230 |
| 6-bottle cases | 300g | 25 tonnes | £215 | £5,375 |
| Dividers | 100g | 8.3 tonnes | £215 | £1,785 |
| Total | 261.8 tonnes | £51,150 |
See the EPR fees by material type guide for complete rates.
DRS Interaction
The UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will cover certain drinks containers. The current proposals include glass bottles for some drink types. If wine and spirits bottles fall within DRS scope:
- You may be exempt from EPR fees on those containers
- You will instead pay DRS producer fees
- Multi-pack and transit packaging will remain under EPR
Monitor DRS developments closely. See our Deposit Return Scheme guide and DRS impact on drinks businesses.
Data Collection
For Importers
Wine and spirits importers are responsible for all packaging on imported products. You need:
- Glass bottle weights — request from your suppliers or weigh empty samples
- Closure and capsule weights — your closure supplier can provide these
- Label weights — weigh samples or get specs from your printer
- Case weights — weigh empty cases and dividers
- Import volumes — use customs/purchase data for exact unit counts
- Nation data — use dispatch records to allocate across UK nations
For UK Producers
UK wine producers (yes, UK wine is growing) and spirits distillers:
- Track all packaging purchased from suppliers
- Use bottling line data for exact counts
- Include packaging for cellar door sales, online sales, and wholesale
For detailed guidance, see how to report packaging data to DEFRA.
Reducing EPR Costs
1. Lighten Your Bottles
Glass bottle weight varies enormously:
| Bottle Style | Typical Weight | Lightweight Alternative | Weight Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgundy | 550g | 420g | 24% |
| Bordeaux | 480g | 380g | 21% |
| Champagne | 900g | 800g | 11% |
| Spirit (70cl) | 600g | 450g | 25% |
Switching to lighter bottles is the single most impactful EPR cost reduction. A 100g reduction per bottle across 500,000 units saves 50 tonnes and approximately £9,600 in EPR fees.
2. Reconsider Premium Weight Glass
Heavy bottles have traditionally signalled quality. Consumer attitudes are changing, and sustainability-conscious buyers increasingly prefer lighter packaging. Several premium wine brands have successfully transitioned to lighter bottles without sales impact.
3. Optimise Case Design
Standard 12-bottle cases can be redesigned with less cardboard. Some producers are switching to lighter 6-bottle cases or shelf-ready packaging.
4. Review Gift Packaging
Christmas and gift-season packaging (tubes, gift boxes, tissue) adds tonnage concentrated in Q4. Evaluate whether every product needs gift packaging or whether simpler options suffice.
5. Consider Alternative Formats
Bag-in-box, canned wine, and PET bottles use significantly less packaging weight per serving than glass bottles. While not suitable for all wines, they represent growing market segments.
Seasonal Considerations
Wine and spirits sales peak sharply in November-December. Gift packaging, promotional packs, and seasonal lines generate additional packaging tonnage. Ensure your data collection captures this seasonal bulge.
Getting Started
- Check your obligation with the EPR compliance checklist
- Weigh your glass — this is where most tonnage sits
- Register with a compliance scheme
- Submit data to DEFRA
- Investigate lightweight bottles
Use the EPR fee calculator and see our pricing.