On 1 April, the UK Government announced a new levy on packaging that will affect businesses across the board. The ‘Plastic Packaging Tax’ charges GBP200 (US$260) per tonne of “finished plastic packaging components” that contain less than 30% recycled plastic. Manufacturers or importers of ten or more tonnes of plastic will have to pay the tax. 
For the purposes of Plastic Packaging Tax, plastic means a polymer material to which additives or substances may have been added. Cellulose-based polymers that have not been chemically modified, such as viscose, will not be treated as plastic for the purpose of Plastic Packaging Tax. Other cellulose-based materials which are chemically modified, such as cellulose acetate, will be considered plastic. Additives include materials such as calcium or dyes. When you assess the amount of plastic in a packaging component, the additives are classed as part of the plastic. Plastics include polymers which are:
If a plastic packaging component is made from multiple materials but contains more plastic by weight (including additives which form part of the plastic) than any other substance, it will be classed as a plastic packaging component for the purposes of the tax. The other substances which you need to consider are:
Plastic packaging components containing 30% or more recycled plastic are not chargeable for the tax. However, they still count towards the 10-tonne threshold for packaging you manufacture or import in a 12 month period, and you must still keep records of it. For the purposes of Plastic Packaging Tax, all plastic is assumed to be made using non-recycled (virgin) material, unless there is evidence that recycled material has been used.
A 10-gram carton is made up of:
All 10 grams will be considered a plastic packaging component as plastic is the heaviest material.
10-gram carton is made up of:
This component will not be considered a plastic packaging component as plastic is not the heaviest material.
10-gram carton is made up of:
This component will not be considered a plastic packaging component as plastic is not the heaviest material.
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Founded in 1988,
Kinghome started in Taiwan with the mission of producing high quality prints and delivering outstanding packaging accessories. Our goal is to bring your ideas to life and make your brand vision to reality.
Kinghome is specialized in producing custom packaging and displays such as boxes, cards, tags, stickers, and polybags etc. Along with our clients, we analyze the industry, improve the packaging, and realize effective marketing visualization. With over 30 years of experience and knowledge, we only provide professional service. We have developed strong partnerships with over 580 clients from over 35 countries. Kinghome is not just your packaging supplier; we are your newest business partner.Our mission is to be a one stop shop with the service from designing, producing and delivering the end product. Our specialists keep our clients satisfied by helping them meet the evolving demands of the market.
