The current packaging producer responsibility system operates UK-wide. This consultation concerns the whole of the UK and is being undertaken jointly by the UK, the Scottish and the Welsh governments. As the Northern Ireland Assembly is not sitting, the UK government has agreed to consult on behalf of Northern Ireland because of the historic UK-wide approach to packaging producer responsibility. This consultation seeks views on measures to reduce the amount of unnecessary and difficult to recycle packaging and increase the amount of packaging that can and is recycled through reforms to the packaging producer responsibility regulations. It also proposes that the full net costs of managing packaging waste are placed on those businesses who use packaging and who are best placed to influence its design, consistent with the polluter pays principle and the concept of extended producer responsibility. The proposals we are consulting on in this document are highlighted below.