PackUK has recently appointed members to the Scheme Administrator Steering Group, completing the appointment of all 4 of its key advisory groups.
Independent Chairs have also now been selected and appointed for all 4 groups.
These voluntary advisory groups will support the continued development and delivery of the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme (pEPR). They play an important role in shaping the UK's packaging waste reforms. These groups are:
- Scheme Administrator Steering Group
- Recyclability Assessment Methodology Technical Advisory Committee
- Efficiency and Effectiveness Technical Advisory Committee
- Communications and Behaviour Change Advisory Group
While not decision-making bodies, each group's membership brings a diverse and valuable range of operational and policy expertise from both the public and private sectors. Their collective insights will serve as a trusted and credible source of advice to inform PackUK's decision-making processes.
PackUK is committed to working with specialists from across the packaging value chain to help guide it in its work, and welcomes each of the successful applicants and their future contributions.
The full membership for each group can be found at this link: Our governance - PackUK
Thank you to all Scheme Administrator Steering Group applicants
Over the summer, PackUK issued a call for expressions of interest to Chair and join as a member of the Steering Group. Following an extensive and fair selection process, which included independent industry panel members, PackUK would like to sincerely thank all those who submitted applications for their interest, time, and patience.
Scheme Administrator Steering Group
The Scheme Administrator Steering Group plays a key role in supporting this close working relationship and brings together skilled professionals from across the packaging value chain who are passionate about recycling and environmental sustainability. It replaces the Interim Scheme Administrator Steering Group, which met until June 2025.
The Steering Group provides valuable perspectives and recommendations to the Scheme Administrator Executive Committee (SA ExCo) on the operational functions of the Scheme Administrator, supporting it to:
- deliver a system that creates maximum environmental benefits through knowledge sharing and collaboration
- deliver maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the collection and packaging system
Appointed members
With the exemption of the local authority representatives, all individuals are appointed as individuals, rather than on behalf of businesses or organisations.
Producer organisations and trade association representatives: Alison Bramfitt, Cat Hay, Gareth Callan, James Bull, John Ryan, Kevin Laughton, Paul Vanston, Steve Carpenter
Compliance schemes: Robbie Staniforth
Waste management organisations: Emma Beal, Stuart Hayward-Higham
Non-government organisations: Claire Shrewsbury, Paula Chin
Local authority representatives: Andrew Cassells (Northern Ireland), Craig Mitchell (Wales), Silke Isbrand (Scotland), Steve Palfrey (England)
Sebastian Munden has been appointed Chair of the Steering Group.
James Bull has been appointed Deputy Chair of the Steering Group
Technical advisory group Chairs
Emma Wilkinson has been elected Chair of the Recyclability Assessment Methodology Technical Advisory Committee (RAM TAC).
Cathy Cook has been elected Chair of the Efficiency and Effectiveness Technical Advisory Committee (E&E TAC).
Paul Vanston has been elected Chair of the Communications and Behaviour Change Advisory Group (CBCAG).
Membership tenure
Each advisory group will meet quarterly.
Membership tenures of one, 2, or 3 years have been randomly allocated for the first year, to allow for regular refreshes while maintaining continuity. There will therefore be opportunities to re-apply for membership of these advisory groups on an annual basis. All future appointments will be for a three-year tenure.
