Posted: 08/05/2025

Updates From DEFRA’s May Circular Economy Newsletter

Circular Economy Newsletter – May 2025 Update

This month’s update covered the latest developments in circular economy reforms, industry events, and stakeholder engagement opportunities. DEFRA shared progress on packaging reforms, digital waste tracking, and environmental improvement plans, plus key announcements on topics such as the single-use vapes ban.

Below is everything that DEFRA have shared in the recent newsletter, that we haven’t shared in another Member Update this week.

Circular Economy Strategy

· Circular Economy Taskforce Update

Catch up on the latest activities from the Circular Economy Taskforce.

· Delivery Roadmap

A progress update on DEFRA’s Circular Economy Delivery Roadmap.

Single-use Vapes

· Circular Economy Single-Use Vapes Update

What the proposed ban on single-use vapes means for stakeholders.

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR)

· Regulators’ Agreed Positions – Version 6

Latest technical interpretations and guidance from regulators.

· Packaging Data System Update

New developments in the packaging data reporting system.

· PackUK Scheme Updates

Recent updates and success stories from the Scheme Administrator.

Environmental Improvement Plan

· Plan Refresh

An overview of the latest changes to the Environmental Improvement Plan.

Engagement & Consultation

· Joint Stakeholder Forum – 3 June

Join DEFRA for the next Circular Economy stakeholder forum.

· Digital Waste Tracking – Call for Participants

Sign up to participate in technical user research groups.

Past Newsletter Editions

Catch up on previous newsletters you may have missed:

· Friday 11 April 2025

· Thursday 27 March 2025

· Friday 14 March 2025

· Friday 7 March 2025