Packaging Price Tracker - 29th 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 six consecutive weeks, reaching 184.1p/litre — down 7.7p in total from its recent peak of 191.8p. The diesel premium over petrol has narrowed further to 25.4p. Six weeks of sustained falls is a strong enough trend that buyers should now be actively requesting surcharge reductions from hauliers.

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.

Aluminium PRN prices made the biggest move of the week, surging 25% to £75.00 per tonne — a sharp reversal after five consecutive weeks of flat pricing at £60.00. At the equivalent week last year, Aluminium stood at £110.00, so the current level still represents a significant year-on-year discount, but the single-week spike will draw attention from buyers of aluminium packaging and closures. Plastic PRN continued its relentless climb, adding another £1.21 to reach £350.13 per tonne — a new 2026 high and 143% above the equivalent week in 2025 (£144.00).

Paper PRNs held steady at £7.50, pausing their seven-week upward run — though remaining 233% above the same week last year (£2.25). Wood held flat at £20.00, Steel eased slightly to £40.00, and Glass Remelt continued its gradual pullback to £94.05. The broader picture across non-plastic PRNs is one of mixed short-term signals within a sustained longer-term upward trend since the start of 2026.

Diesel fell for a sixth consecutive week, reaching 184.1p/litre — down 7.7p from its recent peak of 191.8p. At its current trajectory, diesel may approach the 180p range within the next few weeks. The diesel-to-petrol premium has narrowed to 25.4p and buyers who haven't yet pushed back on haulier fuel surcharges should use this data as the prompt to do so — six weeks of sustained falls is a compelling 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.