The Crisp Packet Problem

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A SPECLOOP EXPLAINER

The Crisp Packet Problem

A short guide to packaging rules, and the gap we could fill.

Every bag of crisps becomes rubbish

Until 2025 Council tax paid most of it Collecting, sorting and recycling all cost money.

Now the company that sells the packaging pays

£0bn

paid to PackUK by companies in 2026-27 (expected)

Crisp company
PackUK
Councils

£

£

The bill depends on three things

100 t How many tonnes

×

PlasticPaper and cardGlass
What it’s made of

×

How easy it is to recycle

= the company’s bill

Every pack gets a traffic light

Green easy to recycle

Amber some problems

Red pays extra

Normal fee

1.2×

1.6×

2.0×

2026-27

2027-28

2028-29

But here’s the catch

Crisp brand
Bag maker
What’s in our bag?
Only we know

The brand needs the details to work out its bill. The details sit with the supplier.

So everyone swaps spreadsheets

0

spreadsheets for one big supplier

Crisp brand
Drinks brand
Supermarket
Sandwich firm
Bag maker
Bottle maker
Carton maker
Label maker
Tray maker

Specloop: one shared library

Crisp brand
Drinks brand
Supermarket
Sandwich firm
Bag maker
Bottle maker
Carton maker
Label maker
Tray maker
Specloop
Rated green

Each supplier enters each pack once

The brand’s reports build themselves

UK EPR returnTonnes by material and nationReady
Repak reportSales into IrelandReady
EU declarationThe new EU packaging lawReady
Red bag → Green bag A greener pack from the same supplier cuts the bill

Specloop

Packaging data, once. Compliance, everywhere.

A concept · working name · not a live service

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