Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of whether (a) food packaging producers, (b) food manufacturers and (c) food and drink retailers have passed on the costs of the plastic packaging tax to consumers; and if he will make a statement.

The Plastic Packaging Tax was introduced on 1 April 2022 to tackle the pressing global issue of plastic waste. The tax applies to importers and manufacturers of plastic packaging and provides an economic incentive to use more recycled plastic in packaging.

If businesses that are liable for the tax choose to pass the cost down to consumers, the Government expects the impact of the tax on consumer prices to be small as plastic packaging typically makes up a very small amount of the total cost of goods.

Further details on the impact of the tax have been published in a Tax Information and Impact Note: www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-plastic-packaging-tax-from-april-2022/introduction-of-plastic-packaging-tax-2021(opens in a new tab)

All taxes are kept under review.