Agricultural Packaging EPR Compliance
Feed bags, fertiliser sacks, and farm supply packaging carry EPR obligations for agricultural suppliers.
Agriculture & Farming EPR: What You Need to Know
Agricultural packaging is dominated by high-weight, high-volume items — a 25kg feed bag might use 80-150g of woven PP or paper, and a busy livestock farm uses thousands of bags per year. For agricultural suppliers and feed mills, packaging tonnage accumulates rapidly.
Bale wrap (silage wrap) is a significant packaging stream that is unique to agriculture. LLDPE bale wrap used to preserve silage is classified as packaging when supplied with the product. Agricultural merchants supplying wrap need to include it in their EPR calculations.
For 2025-2026, the base fees per tonne are: plastic at £423 (woven PP bags, PE bags, bale wrap), paper and card at £196 (paper sacks). Agricultural suppliers using paper sacks benefit from the lower paper/card rate.
See also our guides for chemical products and food packaging.
Common Agriculture & Farming Packaging
These are the key packaging types you need to track and report for EPR compliance in the agriculture & farming sector.
Feed Bags
Woven PP or paper sacks for animal feed (20-25kg). High weight per bag and high volume — major tonnage driver.
Fertiliser Sacks
Heavy-duty PE or woven PP bags for granular fertilisers. Often 25-50kg bags with significant plastic content.
Seed Packets
Paper packets and PE-lined bags for seeds. Range from small garden packets to 25kg agricultural sacks.
Chemical Containers
HDPE containers for pesticides, herbicides, and crop protection products. Subject to both EPR and hazmat regulations.
Pallet Wrap
LLDPE stretch wrap for palletised feed, fertiliser, and supplies. High-volume transit packaging.
Bale Wrap
LLDPE bale wrap and net wrap for silage and hay. Report under plastic. Significant volumes on livestock farms.
What You Need to Do
As a agriculture & farming business handling packaging, you have specific EPR obligations under the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. Here is what you need to track and report to stay compliant.
- Track all primary packaging (feed bags, seed packets, chemical containers)
- Correctly classify bag materials (woven PP vs paper)
- Include bale wrap and silage film in calculations
- Report transit packaging (pallet wrap, strapping)
- Submit data to DEFRA via the RPD portal
- Pay EPR fees based on total packaging weight by material type
Do you need to comply?
You are obligated if your business:
- • Has an annual turnover exceeding £1 million
- • Handles more than 25 tonnes of packaging per year
- • Performs any of the obligated activities (manufacturing, importing, selling, hiring)
Even small producers below these thresholds must register as small producers under the Report Packaging Data (RPD) portal.
Common Agriculture & Farming Compliance Mistakes
Avoid these frequent pitfalls that catch out agriculture & farming businesses every year.
Feed bag classification errors
Woven PP feed bags look like fabric but are classified as plastic for EPR. Paper bags with PE liners are multi-material. Check specifications.
Bale wrap attribution
Bale wrap used on farms is often supplied by agricultural merchants. The supplier (not the farmer) is typically the obligated producer for EPR.
Volume underestimation
A single farm might use thousands of 25kg feed bags per year. Across a customer base, agricultural suppliers handle massive packaging tonnage.
Chemical container complexity
Pesticide containers have triple-rinse requirements and may be collected through compliance schemes. They are still EPR-obligated packaging.
Agriculture & Farming EPR Questions
Common questions about packaging EPR for agriculture & farming businesses.
Are woven PP feed bags classified as paper or plastic?
Woven polypropylene bags are classified as plastic for EPR reporting. They may look like fabric or paper but they are 100% plastic. Check your supplier specifications if unsure.
Who is responsible for bale wrap EPR?
The supplier of the bale wrap (agricultural merchant or manufacturer) is typically the obligated producer. Farmers using the wrap are generally end-users, not obligated producers (unless they meet the turnover and tonnage thresholds for the packaging they handle).
Are crop protection chemical containers handled differently?
They are EPR-obligated packaging like any other. Some containers may also be collected through crop protection industry schemes (like Crop Protection Association). Both obligations can apply.
Do I report packaging on imported animal feed?
Yes. If you import animal feed, you are the obligated importer for all packaging on those products. Get accurate packaging weights from your overseas suppliers.
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