Alright, let’s talk about this new tax that’s coming in and how it’s going to affect us at The Elmer Honey Co. and plenty of other honey producers. No politics—just straight-up facts and a bit of common sense.
From April 2025, the government is bringing in the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme. Basically, it means that since we put our honey in glass jars, we’ll now have to pay extra to cover the cost of recycling and disposing of that packaging. And because glass jars are heavier and more expensive to recycle, we’ll be paying more than those using plastic, paper, or aluminium. Brilliant.
Why Do We Use Glass?
We’ve always used glass because it’s better than plastic—it doesn’t react with food, it’s reusable, and it’s what people expect when they buy honey. But now, because glass costs more to recycle, we’re getting slapped with extra charges. So, what does this actually mean for us?
How This Tax Affects Us
Our Packaging Costs Are Going Up
Most of our jars are small, around 227g (8oz), and the jars weigh between 150g and 200g each. That might not sound like much, but it quickly adds up. If we sell 10,000 jars a year, and each jar weighs 250g, that’s about 2.5 tonnes of glass. Under this new scheme, we’ll have to pay around £600 a year just for the glass packaging tax, and that’s before suppliers increase their prices to cover their own costs.
Glass Jar Prices Will Go Up
Our glass jar suppliers aren’t going to absorb this cost—they’ll pass it straight to us. That means we’ll be paying more for jars, making honey production even more expensive. Because, of course, making honey is already an easy way to make a fortune, right?
Do We Absorb the Cost or Raise Prices?
This tax puts us and many other honey producers in a tough spot. I know I won’t be increasing prices because I don’t want to be a party in the excessive inflation the UK economy is experiencing. If all honey producers increase prices, will fewer people buy honey? We plan to tackle this by buying our jars in larger quantities (we already get two pallets a year) to lower the prices and, hopefully, offset the tax/fine.
Are There Alternatives to Glass?
With glass becoming more expensive, some honey producers might start looking at other packaging options:
- Plastic Jars – Cheaper and lighter, but customers don’t like them, and they’re not great for the environment.
- Metal Tins – An option, but people don’t expect to see honey in a tin, so we’d have to convince customers it’s a good idea.
- Paper or Biodegradable Packaging – Still in development and probably not practical for liquid honey just yet.
More Paperwork for Us
This tax isn’t just about money—it also means more admin. We’ll have to:
- Keep track of how much glass we use.
- Submit reports on our packaging use.
- Make sure we’re following the rules, or risk being fined.
It’s yet another bit of red tape we have to deal with on top of running a business and looking after our bees.
What Does This Mean for Small-Scale Beekeepers?
Big honey producers might be able to absorb these costs more easily, but for small businesses like ours, this is a serious financial hit. Many of us sell at farmers’ markets, small shops, or online, and this tax could make it much harder to stay profitable.
What Can We Do About It?
We need to find ways to cut costs or make our honey even more appealing to customers. Some ideas include:
- Making glass jars lighter – Using thinner but still strong glass to reduce weight.
- Looking at alternative packaging – If a viable eco-friendly alternative comes up, it might be worth considering.
- Selling in bulk – Encouraging customers to buy bigger jars or multi-packs to reduce packaging costs.
- Marketing honey as a premium product – Making sure customers understand why glass jars are better and why it’s worth paying a bit more.
Final Thoughts
This new tax is just another hurdle for small businesses like ours. It’s supposed to encourage recycling, but in reality, it could push more businesses towards plastic, which seems a bit backwards. We’ll have to think carefully about our packaging, pricing, and marketing strategies to keep our honey business running strong.
The next couple of years will be interesting, to say the least. Let’s hope common sense prevails, and in the meantime, we’ll keep doing what we do best—producing top-quality honey, no matter what regulations come our way.
