UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 07, 2026 / With the newest major packaging data reporting deadline on 1 October, businesses affected by the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules are being reminded of the importance of having accurate information about the packaging they handle.

According to Pallet Trucks UK, the deadline also provides an opportunity for businesses to look beyond the paperwork and consider what their packaging processes mean for day-to-day operations.

Large producers must report packaging data for the first half of 2026 by 1 October. The date is also important for large producers registering for EPR for 2027: the rules require businesses to collect and report information about packaging placed on the market, with specific requirements varying according to the type of producer and packaging involved.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Pallet Trucks UK, said the process should prompt businesses to look more closely at how packaging moves through their operations.

“There's a tendency to see packaging compliance as something that sits with an office team, but the information ultimately comes from what is happening across the business.

“That means businesses need to understand what packaging is coming in, what is being used, what is leaving the site and what happens to materials along the way. For some operations, that can involve a surprising amount of physical movement.

“Packaging may need to be separated, stored, moved to different areas or dealt with alongside finished goods. If those processes have grown gradually, the equipment being used to move everything may not have been reviewed at the same time.”

That is particularly relevant for businesses handling large quantities of packaged goods. Pallet trucks, stackers, lift tables and other handling equipment can all form part of the movement of materials around a site, from receiving and storage through to production, packing and dispatch.

The October deadline therefore offers a useful prompt for businesses to look at the practical side of their packaging processes as well as their reporting obligations. 

Chesworth added, “Businesses should be using the review as a reason to ask whether the way materials are being moved still makes sense. If a business has changed its packaging volumes or processes, it should make sure the handling equipment has kept pace with those changes.”

For more information, please visit: www.pallettrucksuk.co.uk.