‘A fundamental part of the supply chain’ – FPA’s Mike Revell on EPR, inflation, and the fight for fairness

Packaging Solutions

Mike Revell, executive chair of the FPA, explains how uncertainty around packaging taxes, innovation, and sustainability is shaping the future of UK hospitality and foodservice.

There is a certain irony in the quiet hum of a coffee machine, that familiar soundtrack to British mornings, when you realise how fragile the ecosystem behind that £2.50 cup has become. From the paperboard in its sleeve to the recycled plastic in its lid, every component sits within a web of regulation, reform, and rising costs. Behind the steam and chatter, a silent chain of manufacturers, distributors, and recyclers keeps the ritual alive, one policy decision at a time.

But that chain, long taken for granted, is under unprecedented strain. New taxes, uncertain legislation, and spiralling costs are pushing the foodservice and hospitality sectors towards breaking point. The very packaging that enables convenience, hygiene, and flexibility, which allows food to travel safely from kitchen to consumer, is becoming a symbol of political confusion and public misconception.

The topics Mike Revell highlights – EPR, inflation, and regulatory uncertainty – will feature prominently across the Foodservice area of Packaging Innovations and Empack 2026, alongside insights from leading suppliers and FPA members, including eGreen, Huhtamaki, Go-Pak, Sabert, Sharpak, and Intertan.

‘I would say at the moment there is real worry about the budget that could really hit hospitality,’ said Mike. ‘It has already been hit because of NIC. You are going to see more pubs and restaurants closing or going down to three days a week, that is causing a real worry and uncertainty. And the second one is EPR, because we are now just in the middle of the Extended Producer Responsibility tax. There is so much uncertainty about it. The clarity is not good.’

As executive chair of the FPA, Mike is the voice of hundreds of UK packaging manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers. Their questions, frustrations, and fears fill his inbox. ‘The larger businesses are pretty much up to speed,’ he said, ‘but the smaller ones are looking for help, and that is what most of the e-mails in my FPA inbox are about at the moment.’

The FPA isn’t opposing the principle of producer responsibility. ‘We are not saying that the industry shouldn’t be recycling or contributing, everyone agrees that we need to. The issue is the implementation. It is damaging for inflation, for administration, and for fairness,’ he said.

And that damage could soon hit the high street. ‘We were given guarantees that no product would be taxed twice. Now we are seeing some products taxed three times. Some of our members are taking legal advice, and we don’t blame them. If that happens, what does it mean for the consumer? A cup of coffee that costs £2.50 now could cost £8.50 next year. That is going to cause massive inflation.’

This uncertainty is compounded by a lack of clarity around how tax revenue is used. ‘Another disappointment is the guarantee that this tax money would go to the areas where it was promised. There is no real authority over where it is spent, it is not ringfenced. We were supposed to see uniform recycling policies across local authorities, with capacity and investment to match. But we now doubt that is going to happen.’

His solution is refreshingly simple: a VAT increase. ‘I have always said, why not just put 1% on VAT? Then everyone, Amazon, importers, everyone, pays a packaging tax. Who is policing EPR registration otherwise? If you had a simple VAT increase, the money would go to the right place. Instead, it has become needlessly complicated, based on tonnage, with constant data changes that businesses can’t keep up with. That is why I called it the ‘Wild West.’’

The UK hospitality sector is already grappling with multiple pressures, rising energy bills, staffing challenges, and minimum wage increases. Packaging is a hidden casualty of these pressures, and yet it is essential. ‘At the moment, all this uncertainty keeps bubbling up, one issue after another, and it feels never ending. If it continues, we are heading towards that £8.50 coffee scenario. And people might finally sit up and take notice when that happens.’

Mike is clear that the industry should not feel guilt over packaging use. ‘We mustn’t feel guilty about what we do. The issue is litter, and sometimes that is out of our control. Look at big fastfood chains, half their business is takeaway. If they stopped using disposables tomorrow, half their business would disappear and thousands of people would be unemployed. There is a lack of understanding that our products are a crucial part of the supply chain that makes hospitality work. Without them, the industry would grind to a halt.’

This perspective underlines a larger tension: society demands sustainability, but the mechanisms for achieving it often fall short. Misaligned incentives, poorly enforced regulations, and uneven implementation place a disproportionate burden on the manufacturers and retailers who are, in practice, already driving change.

Despite the regulatory frustrations, the UK packaging sector is innovating at pace. ‘I have to applaud our members, especially the manufacturers, for their innovation. They have reduced waste, created more sustainable products, and explored materials suitable for composting or recycling. The innovation driven by what is around the corner has been amazing.’

Mike cites clear examples of the market shifting. ‘How many salad containers now in Pret a Manger are actually a board product with an rPET lid? For years gone by it would have been all sorts of different plastics. We are starting to see the retailers driving the trends, and that is always been the case in our industry. Once the big users start to use it, the economy of scale makes it easier for the rest of the market to follow.’

But the ultimate goal remains elusive: truly plastic free recyclable packaging. ‘That would be like breaking the four minute mile. There are certain new materials on the market, and we are hopeful they can be produced at scale. Some of the new materials are performing really well, and I would like to think that in two years we will have a plastic free sandwich pack or cup. But it must also be recyclable,’ he said.

Composting, he notes, remains a challenge. ‘Compostable products are great, but we don’t have enough composting units across the UK. Recycling remains key. A non plastic product that can be recycled would make a big difference.’

Alongside product innovation, the FPA is actively creating systems of accountability. ‘Around six to nine months ago, we established an impartial compliance team to check member and non-member websites for misleading claims,’ said Mike. ‘It has been a major step forward. The next one is an accreditation system, ‘Approved by the FPA,’ for products that meet high standards, particularly around food safety. It gives confidence to the end user and helps raise standards across the board.’

Mike sees accreditation as a way to support innovation while removing greenwashing. ‘We are trying to bring other things in that support innovation, making sure we have got the scientific support, taking out greenwashing from the market as much as we can. Other industries have accreditation schemes, and I do believe it is a major step forward, not just for manufacturers but also for distributors and customers.’

One of Mike’s recurring frustrations is the lack of packaging expertise at a policymaking level. ‘I have attended consultations in Westminster where there wasn’t a single person from the packaging industry on the other side of the table. You would expect some high profile packaging experts there to offer advice and practical knowledge. Instead, the few people present seemed to have only a couple of years of experience. There is this perception that packaging is ‘dirty,’ that we are automatically in the wrong, without understanding how vital this industry is to jobs and the economy.’

Despite this, he remains cautiously optimistic. ‘I have met the new people from Pack UK – very impressed. They are in dialogue with local authorities. I think there will be certain criteria or guidelines. If they are implemented and local authorities can be held to account, that will ensure the money goes where it should.’

Mike’s current tenure is about legacy and reform. ‘This is my second spell at the FPA. The first time I was here, 20 years ago, it was called the British Disposables Products Association. I rebranded it to the Foodservice Packaging Association and put proper structures in place to prepare for these kinds of challenges. Now, we need to restructure again for the next five to ten years to meet members’ demands, and to prepare for the next surprise around the corner.’

The association’s board has grown from four to nine, including leading UK manufacturers. ‘We are rewriting the constitution, the old one wasn’t fit for purpose. There is a lot going on behind the scenes alongside tackling EPR and other challenges.’

Mike concludes with a point of principle, one that defines his leadership. ‘We are the experts in packaging, and if the government would really listen to us, it would help a lot with legislation. But for the moment, everything is still very fluid and uncertain.

‘My view is that we should not feel guilty about the industry we are in. We are an important part of the supply chain that makes everything work. Wherever you go out to dinner tonight, we are involved somewhere along the line. By punishing that link, you punish the whole industry. In hospitality and foodservice, around 60% of all food and drink goes out in our products. It is a fundamental part of the supply chain, but one that is often taken for granted.’

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