Valpak’s ventures into online PRN trading have taken a new twist. Rather than become a potential rival, the compliance scheme has joined the Environment Exchange to add online trading to its member services.

Last year Valpak completed a reverse auction pilot for its own online PRN trading scheme.

The facility remains an option, but Valpak has no plans to offer the service at present said a Valpak spokesperson.

Valpak’s director of operations Steve Gough said: “Membership of The Environment Exchange gives us an extra option for the procurement of PRNs.

“It is a useful adjunct to other ways of trading and is simply an alternative way of meeting our obligation.

“In the longer term we believe that there is potential for electronic trading of PRNs to increase. It is therefore in the interests of our members that we should be prepared for this.”