A new green levy on beer and cider bottles could adversely affect smaller producers.

Commenting on the government’s recently published fee estimates as part of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), CAMRA campaigns director Gillian Hough said: “CAMRA supports the principles of the Extended Producer Responsibility and its potential benefits to the environment, however, a tax on bottles used for beer and cider needs careful implementation to ensure that independent producers and consumers aren’t the ones paying the price.”

EPR places the onus of waste management entirely on the shoulders of producers, making them accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products. For brewers, this means taking responsibility not only for the production and distribution of their bottles but also for the cost of collection and recycling of those added to municipal waste streams.

This shift aims to encourage manufacturers to adopt a more holistic view of their operations, integrating sustainability into the core of their business strategies.

Gillian said: “The industry has awaited clarity on the requirements of EPR for a long time, and while having these latest estimates will help brewers and cider makers plan for the future, the costs in current proposals are simply too high.

“It’s positive that the scheme already makes some distinction between large and small producers, but government needs to urgently rethink the burden it is placing on the industry – particularly on independent brewers who are so crucial for consumer choice.

“Glass bottles are some of the most commonly recycled items in circulation, so the estimated £212m price tag for this packaging feels hugely disproportionate, especially given the sector’s already high overall tax bill and recent shocks from fluctuating energy costs, the growing cost of goods and the ever-lingering shadow of the pandemic.

“I urge DEFRA to meet with industry, hear the concerns of brewers, cider makers and consumers, and rethink its proposals.”