Packaging Price Tracker - 15th 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 four consecutive weeks, dropping to 186.6p/litre — down 5.2p from its recent peak of 191.8p. The diesel premium over petrol has narrowed to 29.2p, its lowest in several weeks. If the trend holds, haulier fuel surcharge pressure should begin easing in the coming 2–4 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 extended their upward trend for a second consecutive week, reaching £336.66 per tonne — a new 2026 high and a 137% increase on the equivalent week last year (£142.23). The pace of the rise is moderating slightly compared to last week's £24.06 surge, but the direction remains firmly upward. With Q2 compliance demand continuing to build and no sign of meaningful new recycling capacity entering the market, buyers relying on plastic packaging face sustained cost pressure through the remainder of the quarter.

Paper PRNs rose for the fifth consecutive week, reaching £7.41 — up 8.2% on last week and now 270% above the same week in 2025 (£2.00). The unbroken upward run since late March is increasingly significant for corrugated packaging buyers, who will be watching for the 6–12 week feed-through into board prices. Wood PRNs jumped 14.6% to £17.71 — a notable move for buyers of wooden pallets and crates, and a material already facing a 60% increase in illustrative pEPR fees for 2026/27. Steel PRNs partially reversed last week's 25% spike, falling back £5.00 to £45.00, while Glass and Aluminium held steady.

Diesel fell for a fourth consecutive week, reaching 186.6p/litre — its lowest level since the Middle East conflict drove prices sharply higher in late February. At 5.2p below its recent peak and with the diesel-to-petrol premium narrowing to 29.2p, the sustained softening is now material enough to expect haulier fuel surcharge adjustments in the next 2–4 weeks. Buyers due to renegotiate transport agreements in the coming month are in a strengthened position.