1. Financial Penalties

The most obvious consequence is financial penalties, which may arise from:

• Incorrect or missing reporting
• Late submissions or underpayment of packaging fees
• Failure to register or comply with notices

Penalties can vary depending on the issue, seriousness, and whether the business cooperates.

🔗 UK Packaging Fines

2. Enforcement Notices

If serious issues are found, your business may receive an enforcement notice or request for corrective action.

This may require you to:

• Correct packaging data and submit missing information
• Update reporting records and provide supplier evidence
• Recalculate obligations and pay outstanding fees
• Improve systems and controls

Ignoring enforcement notices can make the situation significantly worse.

3. Mandatory Corrections

A failed packaging audit often results in mandatory corrections such as:

• Re-weighing packaging and reclassifying materials
• Updating reports and supplier records
• Revising claims and updating labels
• Recalculating and re-paying fees

Corrections should be documented clearly so your business can prove what was fixed and when.

4. Increased Monitoring

If your business fails a packaging audit, it may face increased scrutiny, including:

• More frequent checks and additional data requests
• Closer review of future submissions
• More detailed evidence requirements
• Greater pressure from retailers or marketplaces

Once trust is reduced, your business may need stronger systems to rebuild confidence.

5. Reputational Risk

Packaging compliance failures can affect reputation, especially if your business makes sustainability claims.

Risks include:

• Retailer concerns and buyer hesitation
• Customer trust issues and marketplace restrictions
• Greenwashing concerns and negative brand perception

🔗 EU Packaging Labelling Requirements 2026

🔗 Recyclability Scores Explained

1. Missing Packaging Data

Businesses often forget components such as:

• Labels, tape, closures, inserts, sleeves
• Void fill and transit packaging
• Supplier-applied and imported packaging

If packaging components are missing from your records, your reported data may be incomplete.

2. Inaccurate Packaging Weights

Many businesses rely on estimates or old supplier specifications.

Problems include:

• Estimated weights and outdated supplier data
• Packaging changes not recorded
• No clear weighing methodology

Even small weight errors can become significant across high-volume SKUs.

3. Missing Supplier Evidence

Supplier evidence is essential for passing packaging audits.

Businesses may fail if they cannot provide:

• Material specifications and technical data sheets
• Recycled content proof and recyclability evidence
• Certifications and packaging change notices

📥 Download: Supplier Evidence Tracker

4. Incorrect Material Classification

Packaging must be classified correctly into categories such as:

• Plastic, paper and board, glass, aluminium, steel, wood
• Fibre-based composites and other materials

Misclassification can affect reporting, fees, and compliance risk.

🔗 Recyclability Standards UK Packaging

5. Poor Internal Systems

A business is more likely to fail if packaging data is spread across:

• Spreadsheets, emails, supplier PDFs
• Finance records, product files, warehouse notes

Without a central system, errors and inconsistencies become much more likely.

🔗 Packaging Compliance Software UK

6. Ignoring UK vs Export Packaging

UK and export packaging should be tracked separately, especially if PPWR applies for EU markets.

Mixing UK and export packaging can lead to:

• Incorrect reporting and fee exposure
• EU compliance gaps and documentation errors

🔗 PPWR UK Exporters Guide

Step 1: Stay Calm and Review the Findings

Start by understanding exactly what failed. Ask:

• Was the issue data-related or evidence-related?
• Was reporting incorrect or incomplete?
• Were fees miscalculated or claims unsupported?

Do not guess. Work directly from the audit findings.

Step 2: Create a Corrective Action Plan

Your corrective action plan should clearly list:

• Issue found and risk level
• Action required and owner
• Deadline and evidence needed
• Status and completion date

📥 Download: Packaging Audit Recovery Plan

Step 3: Fix Packaging Data Issues

Update your packaging records by checking:

• All SKUs and packaging components
• Actual measured weights and material categories
• Supplier details and market allocation (UK vs export)
• Household vs non-household status where relevant

Start with high-volume SKUs first.

Step 4: Improve Documentation

Collect and organise evidence in a central audit file, including:

• Supplier declarations and technical data sheets
• Packaging specifications and weighing records
• Reporting submissions, fee invoices, and payment confirmations
• Change logs and corrective action records

Store documents centrally and link them to each SKU.

Step 5: Recalculate Fees if Needed

If packaging weights or material classifications were wrong, fees may need to be recalculated.

Review:

• Packaging tonnage and material types
• Recyclability status and market allocation
• Reported data vs corrected records
• Fee invoices and payments

🔗 UK pEPR Fees Explained 2026

📊 Tool: EPR Cost Planner

Step 6: Update Sustainability Claims

If the audit found unsupported claims, review and correct:

• “Recyclable”, “compostable”, “plastic-free”, “eco-friendly”
• “Made from recycled materials” and similar claims

Claims should be accurate, specific, and supported by evidence.

Step 7: Implement Better Systems

To avoid repeated audit failure, build a repeatable compliance system that includes:

• A master packaging register
• A supplier evidence folder
• A compliance calendar and quarterly data reviews
• Packaging change approval process
• Clear internal ownership

🔗 Packaging Compliance Audit UK tools