Extended producer responsibility for packaging: generate a packaging data file
If you need to submit packaging data under extended producer responsibility for packaging, this spreadsheet can help you generate a valid packaging data file
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Details
If you鈥檙e an organisation that supplies packaging to consumers and businesses in the UK, you may have to take action to comply with extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging.
You may need to collect and submit data about packaging you鈥檝e supplied through the UK market, or any filled packaging you have imported and discarded in the UK.
Find out if you need to collect and report your packaging data.
If you do have to report packaging data you can use this tool to either:
- generate a valid packaging data file
- check how your file should be structured before creating one yourself
It will open as a spreadsheet with three tabs in most spreadsheet software.
Using the generator
1. Prepare your data
There is guidance that explains:
This tool will generate the codes and enforce the rules explained in the guidance about creating your file.
2. Enter your data
Go to the 鈥楨nter your data鈥� tab in the spreadsheet.
Enter your first record on the row under the headers. Start with column B, 鈥極rganisation ID鈥�.
The spreadsheet is converting your entries as you go. To avoid errors, work from left to right across a row. If you need to make changes, clear the entire row and start again.
Select from the drop-down list in any field where one is available. For fields without a dropdown list, check the guidance explaining how to create your file for extended producer responsibility to find the correct format.
If you need to submit more than one record:
- use a new row for each record
- enter data one row at a time
- do not leave blank rows between records
If you save the file while you鈥檙e working on it, keep the original format - it should be an ODS (open document spreadsheet) file.
3. Generate a file
When you鈥檝e entered all your records, check the number under 鈥楳issing Rows in your output鈥� (cell A2). It will be one less than the number of records you鈥檝e entered - for example, if you鈥檝e got 5 rows of records, it should be 4.
This tells you how many rows you鈥檒l have to add in the following steps.
Skip these steps if 鈥楳issing Rows in your output鈥� is zero - that is, you have only entered 1 row.
- Switch to the 鈥榊our output鈥� tab of the spreadsheet.
- Click row 2 - first row under the header row - to select the whole row and then copy it.
- Select exactly the number of rows you need to add - for example, if 鈥楳issing Rows in your output鈥� was 鈥�4鈥�, select rows 3 to 6.
- Paste the formula from your copied row 2 into these rows - 鈥榩aste formula鈥� is usually available in the 鈥榚dit鈥� menu of spreadsheet software, under 鈥榩aste special鈥�
Now:
- 鈥楳issing rows in your output鈥� on the 鈥楨nter your data鈥� tab should be zero
- the 鈥楨nter your data鈥� and 鈥榊our output鈥� tabs should have the same number of active rows, ignoring the header row in 鈥楨nter your data鈥�
If the number is still greater than zero, check that you have copied the formula from the second row of 鈥榊our output鈥� to enough additional rows.
4. Check your data
If you鈥檝e made any errors, they will be highlighted in the 鈥榊our output鈥� tab.
Errors include things like:
- missing information
- codes that cannot be used together - for example, if your organisation size is 鈥楲arge (L)鈥�, you cannot select 鈥榮mall organisation packaging (SP)鈥� for packaging type
- you鈥檝e completed fields that should be empty - for example, giving a number for 鈥楺uantity (units)鈥� for anything other than drinks containers
Correct these errors before exporting your file. Check the guidance on how to create your file for extended producer responsibility if you need help understanding the error.
5. Export the file
You should only export your data once you have completely finished and will not need to edit it again.
Make sure you are on the 鈥榊our output鈥� tab.
Save the file using 鈥楽ave as鈥�. You must save it in the CSV (comma separated values) format.
Your spreadsheet program may warn you that you cannot save a workbook as CSV. It will ask you if you want to save the active tab. If you are on 鈥榊our output鈥�, confirm that you do want to save the active tab.
You can submit this CSV file to the 鈥榬eport packaging data鈥� service.
Updates to this page
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There was an incorrect formula in cell M2 of the tab 'Your_output'. This may have affected some calculations around drinks containers (household and non-household)
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A new version of the tool that supports dual reporting has been published.
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A new version of the packaging data generator has been uploaded, with updated reporting period dates.
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The previous update to this page published a new version of the packaging data tool (2024 v1) prematurely. Using this version may lead to some data issues. This update reverts the tool to the previous version (2023 v2.3) - use this version for your packaging data for now.
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A new version of the packaging data generator has been uploaded, with updated reporting period dates.
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A new version of the packaging data generator has been uploaded. This fixes unexpected error messages when entering data.
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Updated packaging data file generator template - the column headers match up more clearly with the service.
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Updated the file template to the latest version.
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First published.