Newsletter #9 – February 2026

Exchange for Change Newsletter #9  

Welcome to the latest edition of the Exchange for Change newsletter 

2026 is already moving fast. It’s been a busy start for the Exchange for Change team.
We’ve held our first AGM, strengthened our executive team with five senior appointments, launched our first webinar programme and published the regulatory requirements for the scheme logo. 

With just over 18 months until launch in October 2027, we remain focused on delivery. We’re building the systems, partnerships and support that will make the Deposit Return Scheme work smoothly for businesses and consumers across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

 

Key updates 

Our new brand 

Last month, we unveiled our new trading name, Exchange for Change. This reflects the scheme’s core purpose: a simple exchange where people return their empty drinks containers to reclaim their deposit, and the wider impact that simple action has in reducing litter and keeping communities clean. 

It’s a straightforward transaction that leads to meaningful environmental change. Alongside our new name, we introduced the scheme logo that will appear on all in-scope bottles, cans and return points, creating one consistent, recognisable mark that helps consumers quickly identify participating containers.  

 

Five senior leaders join Exchange for Change 

We’ve appointed five senior leaders to our executive team, further strengthening the organisation’s capability across operations, corporate affairs, legal, people and technology: 

Andrew Smith, Chief Operating Officer, brings international executive leadership experience across consumer, supply chain, logistics, waste management and recycling. He has led major strategic and operational transformational change programmes at organisations including Diageo, ABF, BBC, IHG, Centrica and Reconomy Group. 

Kate McFerran, Corporate Affairs Director, brings expertise in leading corporate affairs and communications in regulated sectors in the UK and internationally, including manufacturing, transport and energy. She has worked on large infrastructure and policy projects, building strong relationships with government, media and industry stakeholders. 

Rehan Akram, Legal Director, brings more than 25 years’ legal experience across private practice and senior in-house roles in the UK and internationally, including within the FTSE 100. His background spans regulated and multi-stakeholder sectors, including aviation and retail, with a focus on governance and commercial leadership. 

Henrik Malmquist, People Director, brings experience scaling FMCG-related businesses and building people and HR functions that support long-term performance. His career spans talent acquisition, leadership development, employee engagement and organisational design. 

Trevor Gordon, Chief Information Officer is a senior digital and technology leader with experience delivering large-scale operational and systems changes across organisations including Diageo, Sodexo, Vodafone, Vue Entertainment, Selfridges and Autotrader. 

 

Five FREE DRS 101 webinars remaining – secure your spot today! 

Throughout January and February, we’ve been hosting free introductory webinars to help businesses prepare for the deposit return scheme’s introduction in October 2027, and the response has been strong. 

Each 45-minute session offers a high-level introduction to the scheme, what it is, who’s involved, and what the scheme means for businesses across the drinks supply chain, giving attendees the confidence to start planning and the chance to ask questions directly to the Exchange for Change team in a live Q&A. 

So far, we’ve hosted sessions in partnership with ACS, The Food and Drink Federation, NIFDA, Natural Source Waters Association, British Beer & Pub Association, British Retail Consortium, British Soft Drinks Association and UK Hospitality. Each session has sparked valuable discussion and underlined just how important these conversations are in helping businesses feel informed and prepared. 

There’s still time to register for one of our five remaining webinars in March, which are open to anyone looking to understand more about how the DRS will impact their business. Head over to the website to sign up and secure your spot. 

 

Need to know: scheme logo guidance for producers 

We’ve now published the approved Regulatory Requirements for the Exchange for Change scheme logo. From 1 October 2027, use of the scheme logo in line with the published guidance will be mandatory for producers to remain compliant with DRS regulations. 

The logo is a simple, distinctive symbol designed to make the scheme instantly recognisable on drinks containers. By creating one consistent mark across packaging, return points and communications, the logo will help consumers quickly identify in-scope drinks containers and understand how to take part in the scheme. 

The guidance also confirms how the DRS logo may be used alongside or instead of existing on-pack recycling labels, at the discretion of producers. Full technical artwork files are available in a range of print and digital-ready formats to support packaging updates. 

The full Scheme Logo Regulatory Requirements, along with downloadable artwork files and supporting resources, are available now in the Resources section of the Exchange for Change website. 

 

Wales  

Wales’ Deposit Return Scheme has hit a significant milestone, with regulations now formally laid before the Senedd following confirmation that glass can be included alongside PET and metal under an exclusion to the Internal Market Act.  

The Internal Market Act normally requires regulatory alignment across the UK to prevent trade barriers, so an exclusion (granted by the UK Government) was required to allow Wales to diverge by including glass in scope. The scheme will cover PET bottles, aluminium and steel cans, and glass from the outset, with glass exempt from deposit charges and labelling requirements for four years from the planned October 2027 launch. 

The decision gives further clarity and a clear route to implementation that helps support the interoperable, UK-wide approach that industry has consistently called for. 

For Exchange for Change, this is an important step forward. We have formally submitted our application to operate the scheme in Wales and have met with Welsh officials as part of the formal appointment process. 

Our focus remains on delivering a practical, efficient and interoperable DRS across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and we are keen to work constructively with the Welsh Government to help deliver its ambitions. We’ll share further updates in our next newsletter. 

 

Out and about 

The Exchange for Change team continues to maintain an active presence across industry events and forums. 

This month we attended Packaging Innovations & Empack in Birmingham, where Board member Julian Hunt joined a panel discussion on lessons from established schemes, including Ireland’s, and the role of industry leadership in successful delivery. 

At Retail NI’s Supplier Showcase in Belfast, our Senior Brand, Marketing and Communications Manager, Steph Ferreria and Operations Lead, John Steele hosted an Exchange for Change DRS Readiness Seminar and met with DAERA Minister Andrew Muir. The Minister later discussed the Deposit Return Scheme in the Northern Ireland Assembly, confirming ongoing engagement to support interoperability with the Republic of Ireland’s scheme and commending the positive engagement at the Retail NI event. 

 

 

Keeping in touch 

Please visit our website and remember to follow our new LinkedIn page to keep up to date on our work.