Packaging Price Tracker - 8th 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 three consecutive weeks, easing to 188.1p/litre — down 1.7p from its recent peak of 191.8p. While still well above the 2025 annual average of 147.2p, the sustained downward trend may begin to ease haulier fuel surcharge pressure over the coming 4–6 weeks. Petrol held flat at 156.8p.

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 rebounded sharply this week, surging £24.06 to £327.26 per tonne — a 7.9% weekly rise that erases last week's correction and sets a new high for 2026. At more than 168% above the same week last year (£122.09), the persistent upward pressure on plastic compliance costs shows no sign of sustained easing. The week-on-week volatility — a £17.90 drop followed immediately by a £24.06 rise — reflects the growing tension between buyers completing Q2 PRN positions and the constrained supply of certified plastic recycling capacity.

Paper PRNs continued their unbroken upward run, climbing to £6.85 — up 10.7% on last week and now more than 242% above the equivalent week in 2025 (£2.00). Steel PRNs made the most notable move of the week beyond plastics, jumping £10.00 to £50.00 — a 25% single-week increase that will draw attention from buyers of steel packaging and industrial containers. Glass PRNs edged up modestly across both grades, while Aluminium held flat for the fourth consecutive week and Wood ticked up slightly to £15.45.

Diesel eased for a third consecutive week, falling to 188.1p/litre. While the cumulative 1.7p decline from the recent peak is modest, the consistent downward direction offers some encouragement to buyers monitoring transport cost pressures. The diesel premium over petrol narrowed slightly to 31.3p — still dramatically above historic norms but moving in the right direction. If the trend continues, haulier fuel surcharge relief may follow within 4–6 weeks.