Loading ...Recyclability Assessment Methodology
Understand and get support to apply the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) to your packaging under the EPR regulations.
What is the RAM?
From 2025, large producers obligated under packaging EPR must conduct a recyclability assessment using a Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM), for all the household and commonly street-binned packaging they handle.
The results must be reported to government and will be used to modulate Waste Management Fees, with difficult to recycle materials and packaging formats attracting higher fees from 2026.
The packaging recyclability assessment and resulting fee modulation are intended to encourage a shift towards sustainable packaging practices, by evidencing the impacts of packaging choices and, where appropriate, product considerations.
Who is impacted?
Your organisation may be required to apply the RAM to your packaging and report the results if you are classed as a large producer under packaging EPR.
Are you obligated?
Your organisation will be required to apply the RAM to your packaging if you:
- Have a business, subsidiary or group with a UK presence
- Have an annual turnover of £2m or more
- AND are responsible for more than 50 tonnes of packaging per year
- AND place on market household or commonly street-binned packaging
What do you need to do?
If obligated, you must apply the RAM to your household and commonly street-binned packaging and report to government whether your packaging is classed as:
- Green – ‘Widely recyclable’
- Amber – ‘Recyclable but needs specialist infrastructure’
- Red – ‘Difficult to recycle’
This must be reported twice a year as part of the existing packaging EPR data submissions.
Access RAM knowledge resources
It’s critical that you get to grips with how the RAM impacts your packaging as soon as possible, at a component level. This is so you can report accurately to government on time, and plan improvements to the recyclability of your packaging. Depending on your packaging portfolio, this can be a complex undertaking.
All Ecosurety members have access to extensive online knowledge resources to help them get up to speed quickly and understand the detail they need to report against now, including:
- Understand the basics of the RAM and modulated fees
- Webinars with member Q&As
- Material-specific RAM guidance articles
- RAM frequently asked questions
Check out our RAM knowledge support
Benefit from recyclability assessment support
We will provide our members with a range of RAM data submission support that is aligned with our existing EPR support levels, making it as efficient as possible for you.
It is important to understand that no matter the level of support we provide with your recyclability assessment, you will be responsible for assessing your packaging correctly. But do not fear – we’ll optimise the process to make it as efficient as possible and will always direct you to the relevant support guidance as required.
Mitigate the impact of fee modulation
If you want to mitigate your EPR costs, our advisory team are here to help. We can work with you on a range of projects, focusing on packaging strategy, cost modelling or helping you to assess the impacts of eco-modulation.
It’s never too late to start – improved packaging can result in a lower environmental impact, reduced EPR costs and a great story to communicate to your customers.
We’ll help you get there.
