PackUK – RAM roadmap 2025-2030

Your five-year guide to packaging compliance

The packaging compliance landscape is evolving faster than ever. PackUK has just released its Recyclability Assessment Methodology - RAM roadmap for 2025-2030, and if you're responsible for packaging compliance, this information deserves your immediate attention.

For businesses navigating the complexities of packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR), the RAM v1.1 isn't just another technical document gathering dust on a shelf. It's the foundation that determines whether your packaging is considered recyclable under UK regulations how commonly recycled packaging items are within the current UK waste system. The RAM roadmap is important because it gives you unprecedented visibility into how these critical standards will evolve.

However, one point to be aware of is that PackUK says “all timings in the roadmap are subject to change”.

Why the RAM Roadmap matters to your business

Let’s start with some background. The Recyclability Assessment Methodology underpins every packaging recyclability decision under pEPR. Whether you're managing compliance for a small manufacturer or overseeing packaging strategy for a multinational brand no matter the size of your company or the amount of household packaging you place on the market, RAM ratings directly affect your regulatory obligations and costs.

PackUK's roadmap provides something the industry has been requesting for years: clarity. Instead of reacting to annual updates with little warning, businesses can now plan strategically around scheduled reviews and material-specific guidance changes.

This matters because packaging decisions aren't made overnight. Design cycles, supplier relationships and material sourcing all require forward planning. The RAM roadmap gives you the timeline you need to stay ahead of regulatory changes rather than scrambling to catch up.

Understanding the roadmap structure

The roadmap operates on two levels: recurring annual activities and specific deep-dive reviews scheduled for particular years.

 Annual recurring activities include:

• Quarterly Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings
• Four nations policy alignment reviews
• Annual RAM publications
• July update cycles

These regular touchpoints ensure RAM guidance remains current and aligned with evolving UK policy and international protocols.

Beyond these recurring activities, PackUK has scheduled specific material reviews and guidance updates across the five-year period. This is where the roadmap becomes particularly valuable for strategic planning.

The five-year timeline: What's coming and when

2025: Foundation reviews

The roadmap kicks off with two critical reviews in Q4 2025:

Take-back scheme guidance will be reviewed to ensure alignment with operational realities and regulatory requirements. If your business operates or participates in take-back schemes, this review will clarify expectations and potentially streamline processes.

Evidence provision for RAM rating changes will also be examined. This review addresses how businesses can provide evidence when seeking to change their packaging's RAM rating. It’s a process that has proven challenging for many organisations.

2026: Definitions and language clarity

Looking further ahead, next year brings a comprehensive review of RAM v1.1's foundational elements, including:

• Updates to core definitions
• Review of criteria previously removed from RAM v1
• General language clarity improvements
• Fibre-based Composites (FBC) guidance review

The focus on definitions and language might seem administrative, but it's crucial. Ambiguous terminology leads to compliance errors, disputes and unnecessary costs. By clarifying definitions in 2026, PackUK aims to reduce confusion and improve consistency across the industry.

One particular areas of note is the FBC guidance review. This is especially significant for businesses using such composite materials. These materials often sit in grey areas of recyclability assessments, and updated guidance will provide much-needed clarity.

2027: Technical specifications and contamination

2027 sees attention shift to more technical aspects of packaging recyclability:

Rigid plastics guidance will be reviewed, addressing one of the most commercially significant packaging categories. With rigid plastics representing a substantial portion of packaging waste, any guidance changes here will have widespread implications.

Printing inks specifications and security tags will be considered. These elements can significantly impact recyclability, yet guidance has historically been limited. This review should provide clearer direction on acceptable specifications.

Food and cosmetics contamination guidance will also be examined. Contamination remains one of the biggest barriers to effective recycling, and updated guidance could help businesses design packaging that minimises contamination risks.

2028: The deposit return scheme trigger

2028 marks a potentially significant regulatory milestone. If a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is not operational by this point, producers of drinks containers made from PET plastic, aluminium and steel will become subject to pEPR obligations for these materials.

This isn't a RAM review per se, but it's included in the roadmap because it will fundamentally affect how these materials are assessed and managed under pEPR. Businesses in the drinks sector should be planning now for either scenario: DRS implementation or expanded pEPR obligations.

2029: Bioplastics and compostables

The review of bioplastics and compostables inclusion represents one of the roadmap's most anticipated developments. These materials sound like attractive options for packaging – but can cause issues with sorting and recycling of plastics if households place them in their recycling collection.  As a result, RAM has not considered them recyclable – but by 2029, the UK's waste infrastructure and policy landscape will have evolved considerably. This review will determine how, and whether, bioplastics and compostables fit into the recyclability framework.

2030: Continued evolution

The roadmap extends to 2030 with a commitment to continued alignment with regulation and recyclability protocols. This signals that RAM development won't stop at the roadmap's end; it's an ongoing process of refinement and improvement.

Key areas under review

A five-year forward view is helpful for the whole value chain to be able to forecast and plan. At ERP UK we see the RAM roadmap as useful for our teams, and to ensure the businesses we support are well prepared, and able to set realistic expectations. Policy-makers can also plan ahead, aware that throughout the five-year period, several overarching themes will guide ongoing RAM development. These include:

• Policy alignment: RAM must align with UK policy, international protocols and specifically the Separation of Waste Regulations 2024. As these policies evolve, RAM will adapt accordingly.
• Language and definitions: receiving sustained attention, reflecting industry feedback that clarity is essential for consistent compliance.
• Revisiting RAM v1 removals: Some criteria removed in earlier versions may be reconsidered in light of new evidence or changed circumstances.
• International alignment: ensuring UK businesses aren't operating in isolation. As global packaging standards evolve, RAM will maintain relevance and compatibility.

What this means for your packaging compliance strategy

The RAM roadmap transforms how businesses should approach packaging compliance planning. Here's what you should be doing now:

Map your packaging portfolio against the timeline. Which materials do you use? When are they scheduled for review? This simple exercise identifies when you'll need to pay closest attention.

Build review points into your planning cycles. If rigid plastics guidance is being reviewed in 2027, your 2026 packaging design decisions should account for potential changes.

Engage with the process. PackUK works with the Technical Advisory Committee and industry stakeholders. If you have expertise or evidence relevant to upcoming reviews, contribute to the discussion.

Prepare for the DRS decision point. If you produce drinks containers in the affected materials, 2028 isn't far away. Both scenarios, DRS implementation or expanded pEPR, require different preparation.

Don't assume the timeline is fixed. PackUK explicitly states that all timings in the roadmap are subject to change. Build flexibility into your plans and stay informed about updates.

The bigger picture: RAM and the circular economy

At its core, the RAM roadmap is about supporting the transition to a circular packaging system. Each review, each clarification and each guidance update moves the industry closer to packaging that's genuinely recyclable in practice, not just in theory. As the plan unfolds, PackUK and other government departments will also be factoring in whether infrastructure capacity is available to process each format fully effectively and whether there are stable end markets for each material

For businesses, the plan creates both challenges and opportunities. The challenges are obvious: evolving standards require ongoing attention and adaptation. But the opportunities are equally significant.

Companies that engage proactively with RAM development can influence outcomes, prepare ahead of competitors and position themselves as leaders in sustainable packaging.

Those that treat it as a compliance burden to be minimized, will find themselves perpetually reactive.

Getting expert support

The RAM roadmap provides valuable visibility, but translating it into practical compliance strategy requires expertise. The methodology is technical, the implications are complex and the stakes are high.

ERP UK has supported hundreds of businesses with packaging compliance, providing the expertise and data-driven solutions that simplify Extended Producer Responsibility obligations. Our team tracks regulatory developments, interprets technical guidance and helps businesses stay ahead of changes.

Whether you're grappling with current RAM requirements or planning for future updates, expert support ensures you're strategically positioned for whatever comes next.

What are your next steps?

The RAM roadmap 2025-2030 is available now through the official government publication portal (see below). Review it alongside your packaging strategy and compliance calendar.

Identify which reviews affect your business most directly, mark key dates in your planning cycles and consider how upcoming changes might influence your packaging decisions today.

And if you need support navigating the complexities of RAM, pEPR or packaging compliance more broadly, ERP UK is here to help. Our expertise simplifies compliance, our data-driven approach ensures accuracy and our strategic partnership approach means we're invested in your long-term success.

The packaging compliance landscape will continue evolving throughout 2025-2030. With the RAM roadmap as your guide and expert support when you need it, you can turn regulatory complexity into competitive advantage.

For more information about the RAM Roadmap, visit here.

How can ERP UK help?

We help businesses of every size.

ERP UK provides leading expertise, data-driven solutions, and take-back programmes that simplify EPR for organisations navigating increasingly complex environmental regulations.

Related services

ERP UK's Packaging EPR for Large Producers: Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) - visit the webpage here

Extended Producer Responsibility - visit the webpage here

About ERP UK

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