The Environment Agency accepted an enforcement undertaking for breaches of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations SI 2007/871 from a well-known high street shop Zara Home, along with three other branches belonging to the same clothing giant Inditex group - Pull&Bear, Bershka and Massimo Dutti.
Between 2010 and 2015 Zara Home UK Ltd broke rules which state that businesses must fund the recycling of the packaging waste that they place on the UK market. Zara also avoided paying a charge based on how much packaging the company used in the course of business over the same period. Similar enforcement has been brought to the other three retailers.
All four businesses have identified their non-compliance and decided to work with the Environment Agency to address and rectify their failings. All four companies contributed £26,000 in total to make amendments for the environmental damage and breaches, while demonstrating how they will comply with the law in the future.
The funds obtained through enforcement undertaking will be passed on to two charities: Keep Britain Tidy will receive £13,000 to educate children on litter and waste, while another £13,000 will be given to the Marine Conservation Society to fund beach litter-picks in the UK.
The Environment Agency officer, Jonathan Coldicott said: "Any company producing more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year, and with a turnover of above £2 million, must register with the Environment Agency or a packaging compliance scheme, and meet their responsibilities for recycling waste packaging.
"If companies fail to meet their obligations under environmental law, we will take action to ensure that they change their ways."
He also added: "The companies also agreed to take measures to ensure they comply with their packaging waste responsibilities in the future.
"As well as the charitable contributions, they paid the Environment Agency’s full costs.
"We’re satisfied that they won’t repeat their mistakes again."
