What Does the Plastic Packaging Tax Mean to You?

In a recent social media poll, we asked our followers: “Has the new Plastic Packaging Tax, introduced on 1st April 2022, changed your attitude towards using plastic packaging?” We posed this question because environmental sustainability is a growing global concern — with global warming, plastic pollution, and landfill waste all putting pressure on manufacturers and consumers alike to make more conscious choices. The Plastic Packaging Tax aims to encourage the use of at least 30% recycled content in plastic packaging, and we wanted to know: has it made a difference to you?

Why This Matters in Our Industry

At Sinclair & Rush, we’re part of the plastics industry, and many of our products fall into the category of plastic packaging. We’re committed to being as environmentally responsible as possible, while continuing to supply the high-quality parts our customers rely on. That’s why we’ve adapted several products in our range — including our new recycled protective sleeving, which is exempt from the Plastic Packaging Tax. We’re always developing new ideas and innovations to support sustainability without compromising performance.

According to the UK Government: “This is a new tax that applies to plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into, the UK that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. Plastic packaging is packaging that is predominantly plastic by weight.” We’ve made sure that any costs relating to the tax are already built into our prices, so our customers don’t have to manage or worry about this additional burden. We’ve got it covered.

Poll Results: Has the Tax Changed Attitudes?

Here’s what our poll revealed: 29% said yes – the tax has changed their views on plastic packaging. 71% said no – their use of plastic packaging remains unchanged.

These results tell us that for many, the tax has had little to no impact — possibly due to the unavoidable nature of packaging in certain industries. Several respondents explained that time pressures and limited resources make it difficult to switch packaging materials, even if they would prefer to.

However, nearly a third of participants are making conscious changes — such as reducing the amount of plastic they use, or sourcing packaging with recycled content to minimise tax and environmental impact.

We’d Love to Hear More from You

What does the Plastic Packaging Tax mean to you and your business? Have you changed your packaging strategy — or found it too difficult to make the switch?

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment or message us on the social media platform where you found this article or email us on sales@sinclair-rush.co.uk  — and let’s keep the conversation going.