We are the UK Green Dot Licensing Company
The Green Dot symbol does not mean that the packaging it is applied to is recyclable. It does not have any environmental or recycling meaning; therefore, should not be used to bolster an environmental claim. When looking for a suitable logo to promote environmental credentials or packaging recyclability there are a variety which can be considered. Please see our Green Dot Code of Practice for more information.
In Spain the Green Dot is a mandatory trademark for all packaging, which means the first business to place packaging onto the market must pay a licence fee and display the symbol on their packaging. Historically the Green Dot was mandatory in several other countries where it is now voluntary, although still widely adopted.
Packaging placed onto the UK market, which displays the Green Dot symbol, must be licensed.
It is not mandatory to display the Green Dot on packaging in the UK because we currently use the PRN system to help recover and recycle packaging waste. However, if a business exports to other European countries it may be required to display the Green Dot on its packaging to demonstrate compliance.
Many organisations choose to purchase a UK Green Dot licence so they are not burdened with the time and costs of printing two sets of packaging i.e. one without the Green Dot for the UK and another with the Green Dot for goods exported.
We are a member of OPRL (On-Pack Recycling Label), which provides a consistent recycling message for UK consumers and we encourage producers to consider using this. Unless there are environmental reasons for using common packaging across different markets where the Green Dot might be required, we encourage producers not to use the Green Dot in the UK to avoid any confusion to consumers.
If your company is registered in the UK and is a full member of our Packaging, WEEE or Batteries compliance schemes it can use the Green Dot symbol in the UK for free (this does not include small WEEE/ battery customers). All we ask is you let us know you are using the Green Dot symbol, agree to the Terms and Conditions and provide us with basic information on the types of packaging the Green Dot is displayed on.
Members of our “Small WEEE” and “Small Batteries” services and non-Valpak companies must purchase a licence separately. The current licence fee is £295 (excl. VAT) per company, which will cover all brands owned by the company. We currently collect licence fees from around 200 individual companies.
Our International Compliance Team helps businesses comply with producer responsibility legislation in other countries and can also obtain Green Dot licences on their behalf.
If you require a Green Dot licence for packaging that you export it is likely you also need to comply with each country’s respective producer responsibility legislation.
Find out more by visiting our International Compliance web page or by calling 03450 682 572
The following Packaging Compliance Schemes are also sub-licence holders for the Green Dot in the UK. If you are a member of one of these schemes we recommend that you check whether your membership with that scheme covers the cost of your Green Dot licence:
The money we collect for licences from both individual companies and schemes goes towards the fees we pay to PRO Europe and towards the cost of administering the licences.
To find out more about what some of the other symbols that can be found on packaging mean, please visit our sister website www.recycle-more.co.uk
To apply for a licence or to find out more about the Green Dot in the UK and other countries contact us today: