Apply to be the Producer Responsibility Organisation for Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging
Guidance for organisations on how to apply to be the Producer Responsibility Organisation to administer the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme, and how your application will be assessed.
The Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) will be an independent, not-for-profit, producer-led body that works alongside PackUK in delivering the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging scheme.
The PRO may be responsible for administering activities related to:
- calculating producer fees
- modulation of producer fees
- the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM)
- local authority cost modelling
- communications and public information
- improving the effectiveness and efficiency of local authorities’ operations
PackUK intends to appoint the PRO in March 2026.
Read guidance about EPR for packaging.
Who can apply
Your organisation must be an independent, not-for-profit, private body.
When to apply
Applications are open. You can submit your application any time up until 17:00 on Friday 12 December 2025.
Any changes or extensions to the deadline will be communicated as soon as possible.
How to apply
Contact EPRCustomerService@defra.gov.uk to request the application documents.
PackUK will aim to respond within 3 working days with the application form.
Return the completed application form to us by emailing EPRCustomerService@defra.gov.uk by 17:00 on Friday 12 December 2025.
How your application will be assessed
Your application will be evaluated based on its merits and your organisation’s suitability for appointment as the PRO. This includes:
- how you demonstrate you’re able to meet your responsibilities for the activities you’ll be administering;
- how you demonstrate you have support for your organisation’s appointment from producers, their representatives and others likely to be affected by the appointment.
We’ll carry out an initial assessment of all applications and may ask you for additional information, if needed. We’ll score applications numerically based on a standardised scoring system.
The scores will inform our recommendation to Ministers across the UK Four Nations on the PRO appointment.