The plastic tax introduction

We were all warned it was coming, and environmental change is inevitable, and essential! If we are to save our planet, it’s important that we make the necessary changes like reducing our plastic levels, immediately. The UK government announced that in April 2022 a plastic tax will introduce with an aim to help reduce plastic use and plastic waste and encourage wider use of recycled plastic in industries including retail, construction, and manufacturing.

Gov.uk explains “If you manufacture or import 10 or more tonnes of plastic packaging within a 12 month period, you may need to register for the tax”. And it's important to note that HMRC regulate the tax in much the same way that they do with VAT. If your company doesn't follow the rules deliberately, then there can be significant penalties imposed. But remember, this is just us sharing what we have learned - if you need expert advice, we will always recommend you speak to your tax specialist or accountant. But back to how we can help.

The good news is that Peak Envelopes has adopted a sustainable packaging approach for decades. If you already work with us, chances are you know this. We are FSC accredited, all our paper is from sustainable sources, we replant our trees, and we offer a suite of envelopes, packages and boxes that are all recyclable (and many biodegradable), and made right here in the UK. More recently (in the last 3 years) we have introduced our eco conscious Enviroflute range of packaging and envelopes. This range is plastic free, and gives businesses peace of mind when sending packages or choosing packaging solutions for clients.

Every time we send a package, it's important to be thinking about our environmental footprint - be that the carbon footprint that product makes in relation to air and car miles, where the materials are sourced, or how ethical the company is overall. Asking those questions is vital if we are to make a positive environmental change to our world. And that this is very important to us here at Peak. After all, 49 years is a long time to be working in the printing and packaging industry and we want to keep making a favourable impression for at least another 49 years plus.  

If you are stuck as to what changes you may need to make to ensure your clients are adhering to the new plastic tax rules, why not chat to one of our experienced Account Managers. They're here to help!