The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published new guidance on extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. The guidance details new requirements for UK organisations that supply or import packaging, including collecting and reporting packaging data, fulfilling recycling obligations, and obtaining evidence of packaging waste recycling through Packaging Recycling Notes and Packaging Export Recycling Notes. It details the transition from the National Packaging Waste Database to the new Report Packaging Data service for managing these obligations. Additionally, the guidance introduces waste disposal fees for large organisations, set to begin in October 2025. Defra has also published updated illustrative base fees for the first year of EPR for packaging, refining previous estimates from August and September 2024, now providing single figure estimates instead of ranges. It has also published draft guidance explaining the methodology and procedure used to calculate estimated EPR payments for local authorities (LAs) for the 2025-26 period. Defra is seeking feedback on both the estimates and the guidance, with plans to publish an updated version in Spring 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Year 2 review of the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce (ESRT), confirming an extension of its mandate for at least three additional years. The report highlights that the second year of the ESRT focused on delivering advice and guidance, completing its first round of stakeholder engagement, and developing key enablers for species translocations. It details the establishment of an eight-member international expert panel and progress across four workstreams, including the development of an assisted colonisation framework for species and the establishment of a database and online hub to track translocation activity across the UK. The ESRT is also further investigating perceptions of predator guilds in England, with a report expected in April 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published an independent report on the work carried out by the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce (ESRT). ESRT is an independent expert technical advisory panel formed in February 2023 which provides independent advice to the government on existing and potential species conservation translocations in England. This report reviews the work of the ESRT in its first year and outlines its plan for the next year.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published England’s first Land Use Framework, setting out a national approach for government, landowners and planners to use land more effectively to support housing, food production, environmental protection and infrastructure. The Framework establishes a strategic, evidence-based plan to improve long-term resilience and address inefficiencies caused by fragmented decision-making, concluding that housing delivery, clean energy, nature recovery and food security can be achieved concurrently through more efficient and multifunctional land use. It sets out a long-term vision to 2030 and 2050, supported by four principles multifunctionality, right use in the right place, future-ready decisions and adaptability to guide decision-making without prescribing specific land uses.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 alongside comprehensive delivery plans for Environment Act 2021 statutory targets. The plan, structured around 10 goals, builds on the 25 Year Environment Plan and EIP 2023, and is supported by statutory targets, delivery plans, progress reports and an evaluation framework. Defra has published 13 specific delivery plans covering agriculture water quality, air quality, farm wildlife, habitat creation and restoration, invasive non-native species, marine protected areas, protected sites, residual waste reduction, statutory species targets, tree canopy and woodland cover, wastewater, water and abandoned metal mines, and water demand. The delivery plans set out steps to deliver Environment Act 2021 statutory targets and 5-year interim targets, to be implemented with partners including Defra arm's length bodies, other government departments, local authorities, landowners, farmers, private companies, third-sector organisations and community groups. Defra has also published monitoring plans and the Environmental Indicator Framework to track progress and assess impact.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the 'Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England's Future' alongside its response to Baroness Batters' independent Farming Profitability Review. The roadmap sets out a 25-year framework for English farming up to 2050. Immediate measures include extending supply chain fair dealing regulations to egg producers and fresh produce, and transferring the Groceries Code Adjudicator from the Department for Business and Trade to Defra. An additional £53 million for the Farming Innovation Programme brings total innovation funding this year to £123 million. A £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund will open in summer 2026 to support groups of farmers in growing their businesses, building partnerships and sharing best practice. The government will also create Sector Growth Plans starting with horticulture and poultry. Defra will establish a new UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary area to reduce export friction, and Seasonal Worker visas will continue until at least 2030. Environmental Land Management schemes will be refocused, with mitigation and conversion payments phased out over time. The government will also work with the Office for National Statistics to develop supplementary statistics on the economic value of agriculture beyond the current 0.6% Gross Value Added measure.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Future of Rural England Report. It sets out the challenges facing rural communities in England, the government's actions to address those challenges and how this work supports Defra's objective of flourishing rural communities. The report builds on the work of the Rural Taskforce, a group of rural stakeholders convened in April 2025 to explore the strengths and opportunities available to rural areas.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Greening Government Commitments ICT 2023-24 annual report, detailing the progress made by government departments, agencies, and public bodies in improving the sustainability of their digital services and technologies. The report also comprises an analysis of data on carbon emissions and circularity at both government and departmental levels. It highlights an 8% reduction in CO2e emissions from government IT, down to 343,000 tonnes, and a 17% decrease in e-waste, now at 1,500 tonnes. While progress has been made on most commitments, challenges persist in achieving data accuracy and consistency across departments. Digital sustainability is now a key component of government strategies, but further efforts are required to enhance interdepartmental collaboration and overcome barriers to sustainability. The government plans to address these issues and outline specific deliverables in an updated Government Digital Sustainability Strategy, scheduled for publication later in 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published a quarterly report outlining its performance against the UK’s ‘greening government commitments’ as of December 2023. The targets are set to demonstrate the impact of government departments on the environment. In the report, Defra outlined the steps taken to fulfil these targets including adding a sustainability annex in its annual report and accounts, the installation of wind-turbines, solar water heaters and ground source heat pumps into several of its sites and committing to low carbon technology replacements when required. Defra also outlined their work towards a nature recovery plan, the implementation of sustainable procurement policies and the Greening Government ICT and Digital Services Strategy as further initiatives to meet the environmental commitments.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published recommendations from the Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee (HSAC) on the adoption of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in UK chemical regulation post-Brexit. This follows Defra’s request for an updated opinion, subsequent to HSAC’s 2012 opinion. HSAC proposes that Defra establish criteria for integrating NAMs within a progressive regulatory framework for chemical safety assessments, beginning with their use in grouping and prioritisation, along with other key recommendations. HSAC also notes that the strategic implementation of NAMs within UK REACH and GB-CLP regulations could reduce, refine, and potentially replace animal testing, while improving the efficiency of hazard assessments.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), along with devolved administrations, and associated bodies, has published a joint position statement (JPC) on unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance in the marine environment, particularly for commercial marine developments.  The JPC establishes low noise methods as the default approach for UXO clearance, with high order methods, such as detonations, to be used only as a last resort. It also outlines additional information required for marine licence applications, including environmental assessments, mitigation plans, and monitoring protocols, among other aspects. Defra has also published guidance to assist marine users in minimising environmental impacts from UXO clearance. It has also published a policy paper, detailing the UK’s government’s ongoing and future efforts to reduce marine noise pollution, focusing on mitigating the impact of offshore wind development. From January 2025, all offshore wind pile driving activities in English waters must demonstrate best efforts to reduce noise using primary and/or secondary reduction methods. Defra also intends to consult on implementing an offshore wind piling noise limit, among other measures.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Marine Recovery Fund (MRF) terms and conditions for offshore wind developers, setting out the contractual arrangements for developers applying to the fund before or after obtaining development consent. Developers applying before consent must first enter into a conditional agreement and, once consent is granted, enter into an MRF contract incorporating the standard terms and conditions. Developers applying after consent are required only to enter into the MRF contract with the standard terms and conditions for post-consent applicants. Defra states that each contract is supported by accompanying schedules, which are available on request.