Packaging Price Tracker - 19th June 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 eight consecutive weeks, reaching 176.7p/litre — down 15.1p from its recent peak and at its lowest level since January 2026. The diesel premium over petrol has narrowed to 21.2p, its tightest since before the Middle East conflict. Eight weeks of sustained falls represents a significant market correction — buyers paying surcharges set at March or April levels are now materially overpaying.

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 surged £19.72 this week to reach £376.70 per tonne — its largest single-week rise since April and a new 2026 high by a significant margin. At 152% above the equivalent week last year (£149.27), plastic compliance costs are accelerating again after a period of slower weekly increments. The renewed momentum suggests Q2 compliance positions are still being chased, and with Q3 demand beginning to build, buyers relying heavily on plastic packaging face a difficult summer. Wood PRN also jumped sharply, up 20% to £30.59 — now 665% above the same week in 2025 (£4.00), a staggering year-on-year move.

Paper PRNs accelerated upward to £8.06, up 6.9% on last week and now 404% above the equivalent week last year (£1.60) — another material breaking records week after week. Steel moved up modestly to £42.50, while Aluminium continued its gradual retreat to £69.01. Glass held steady on both grades. The broad picture is one of widespread PRN inflation across most material streams, with only Glass and Aluminium showing any softening.

Against this backdrop of rising compliance costs, diesel continues to deliver rare good news — falling for a ninth consecutive week to 172.5p/litre, now 19.3p below its conflict peak. Both diesel and petrol are approaching pre-conflict levels, and the diesel-to-petrol premium has narrowed to 19.2p. Buyers who have not yet renegotiated haulier fuel surcharges are now significantly overpaying — nine weeks of sustained falls provides an unambiguous basis for that conversation.

Need sustainable packaging for your business?

From corrugated boxes to eco-friendly void fill — we supply the UK's leading retailers and brands.