Packaging Price Tracker - 1st May 2026

What are PRNs? Packaging Recovery Notes are compliance certificates that obligated UK packaging producers must purchase to prove their packaging has been recycled. The price reflects recycling market capacity — higher prices typically indicate tighter supply of certified recycling.

Why this matters for packaging buyers: HGV fuel surcharges typically track diesel prices with a 4–6 week lag. Diesel has now fallen for two consecutive weeks, easing to 188.8p/litre — down 1.0p on last week and 3.0p below its recent peak of 191.8p. While still significantly above the 2025 annual average of 147.2p, the downward trend may begin to soften haulier fuel surcharge conversations in the coming weeks.

About these fees: 2026/27 marks Year 2 of pEPR and the first year of eco-modulation, replacing the flat-rate fees of 2025/26 with a Red-Amber-Green (RAG) system tied to the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM). Amber is the base rate shown above. Red-rated packaging (less recyclable) is charged at 1.2× amber; Green-rated packaging receives a discount. These are illustrative figures published by PackUK in December 2025 — confirmed fees will be published in June 2026. Wood sees the biggest increase at +60% vs 2025/26. Plastic remains the highest-cost material at ~£465/t amber.

Plastic PRN prices fell back sharply this week, dropping £17.90 to £303.20 per tonne — a 5.6% weekly decline after last week's peak of £321.10. Despite the correction, plastic compliance costs remain dramatically elevated year-on-year, sitting at more than 155% above the equivalent week in 2025 (£118.96). The pullback is likely a short-term correction as some Q2 buyers completed their PRN positions, rather than a signal of sustained easing — with compliance demand continuing to build through the quarter, further volatility is expected.

Paper PRNs continued their upward trend, rising to £6.19 — up £0.77 on last week and now more than three times the equivalent price a year ago (£1.80). This sustained climb reflects tightening paper recycling capacity and growing compliance demand, and is likely to draw increasing attention from buyers of corrugated packaging who track both PRN compliance costs and the underlying board market. Glass, Aluminium, Steel and Wood PRNs all held flat for the week, reflecting stable compliance positions in those material streams.

Diesel eased for the second consecutive week, falling to 188.8p/litre — a modest but welcome decline from last week's 189.8p. The two-week downward trend follows a period of sustained pressure linked to the Middle East conflict, and the diesel premium over petrol has narrowed slightly to 32.0p. While still well above historic norms, any continued softening in diesel will begin to take pressure off the fuel surcharge conversations between buyers and their hauliers over the coming month.