A Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) is a type of document that provides evidence waste packaging material has been

recycled Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. The recovery of energy from waste materials is often included in this concept. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the p ...

into a new product. They form a key part of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 which covers Great Britain. Packaging Recovery Notes can be issued by accredited reprocessors when they have recovered and recycled a tonne of

packaging material Packaging is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Packaging also refers to the process of designing, evaluating, and producing packages. Packaging can be described as a co ...

. The accredited reprocessor can sell the Packaging Recovery Note to obligated companies or Compliance Schemes who use the Packaging Recovery Note to prove that a tonne of packaging material has been recycled on their behalf, or their members behalf.

Packaging Export Recovery Note

A Packaging Export Recovery Note (PERN) can be issued by an accredited exporter for each tonne of waste packaging material that has been

exported An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is an ...

overseas. When packaging waste is exported overseas the facilities must operate to a standard set by those in Great Britain.

NPWD

The National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) is a web-based database operated by the

Environment Agency The Environment Agency (EA) is a non-departmental public body, established in 1996 and sponsored by the United Kingdom government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with responsibilities relating to the protection and enha ...

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United K ...

, the

Scottish Environment Protection Agency The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA; gd, Buidheann Dìon Àrainneachd na h-Alba) is Scotland's Environmental regulation, environmental regulator and national flood forecasting, flood warning and strategic flood risk management au ...

(SEPA{{Citation needed, date=September 2013), the

Northern Ireland Environment Agency The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is an executive agency within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). It is responsible for conservation of Northern Ireland's environment and natural heritage. Origi ...

and the Advisory Committee on Packaging. The database allows the electronic issuing of Packaging Recovery Notes and submission of quarterly returns by reprocessors and exporters. Packaging Recovery Notes were originally issued in paper format, however following a number of cases of fraud in the Packaging Recovery Note system the National Packaging Waste Database was developed to phase out paper based reporting. From September 2007 all Packaging Recovery Notes must be issued electronically and the name of the obligated company or compliance scheme to whom the Packaging Recovery Note is issued is registered on the NPWD.

Compliance schemes

Packaging waste Packaging waste, the part of the waste that consists of packaging and packaging material, is a major part of the total global waste, and the major part of the packaging waste consists of single-use plastic food packaging, a hallmark of throwaway ...

compliance schemes purchase Packaging Recovery Notes on their members’ behalf, such that a scheme’s aggregated obligation in a given registration year is met. Since the inception of the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) in 2007, all PRNs and PERNs are issued electronically. Schemes and brokers must acquire PRN evidence on behalf of either their aggregated obligation in the case of a scheme or a specific obligated producer in the case of a broker. Either the name of the scheme or the obligated producer must be included on the PRN/PERN as recipient. This approach has been established to ensure a more predictable market and to prevent the speculative acquisition of evidence.

PRN trading

To allow a central location for the buying and selling of Packaging Recovery Notes and Packaging Export Recovery Notes
The Environment Exchange (www.t2e.co.uk)
was launched in 1998, which serves as the industry's price index and trading platform. Since then, alternative platforms have entered the market such as Clarity Environmental in 200
Clarity Environmental
SCM Environmental (www.scm-enviro.com) and PRN Runner, launched in 2010. These websites allow accredited reprocessors to post details of Packaging Recovery Notes they can issue from the tonnage of waste packaging material they have registered on the National Packaging Waste Database. Obligated companies and compliance schemes can purchase these Packaging Recovery Notes direct from the accredited reprocessor or post details of Packaging Recovery Notes they require to fulfill their obligations under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007
NPWD
- National Packaging Waste Database
Valpak
- The UK's first and largest packaging producer compliance scheme and a leading provider of environmental compliance services.
Comply Direct
- Comply Direct is the packaging compliance scheme of choice with vast PRN procurement experience
NIpak
Northern Ireland's Packaging Compliance Scheme
Scotpak
- Scotland, England & Wales Packaging Compliance Scheme
The Environment Exchange (t2e)
- The UK's price index and trading platform for PRNs
Leaf Environmental
- Packaging Compliance Experts servicing UK & RoI
ecosurety
- Market leading packaging compliance support and PRN advice
Clarity Environmental
- One of the largest open market traders of PRNs and packaging compliance.
Guidance on packaging waste regulations and Producer Responsibility Obligations
on NetRegs.gov.uk
Kite Environmental Solutions
- Sources and distributes PRN's along with data submission services Waste legislation in the United Kingdom Recycling in the United Kingdom