The RAM reporting deadline – fast approaching!

Introduction

With the RAM reporting deadline set for 1^st April 2026 (earlier if you’re a member of a Compliance Scheme) - the pressure is mounting for large household packaging producers across the UK. As a Compliance Scheme, ERP UK’s reporting deadline is 27^th February.

The RAM V.1.1 is an integral part of the UK's packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) system. For many businesses, their RAM reporting will determine whether they face years of escalating fees or secure competitive cost advantages.

The results must be reported to government and will be used to modulate Household Packaging Waste Disposal (HPWD) Fees. It’s important to note that ‘difficult to recycle’ materials and packaging formats attract higher fees from 2026.

RAM reporting is intended to encourage a shift towards sustainable packaging practices, by evidencing the impacts of packaging choices and, where appropriate, product considerations.

This is now about urgent action to avoid automatic 'Red' classifications that could cost businesses substantially more in fees.

The RAM deadline reality: What happens from 1^st April 2026?

When mandatory H2 2025 RAM reporting closes, business can resubmit or submit late until the end of November/early December if they need to. If submitting late they will receive Environment Agency letters, so it is strongly advisable data is reported in line with the 1^st April or Compliance Scheme deadlines (February).

Any packaging that hasn't been properly assessed automatically receives a 'Red' classification under the Recycling Assessment Model. This is an immediate financial penalty that escalates significantly:

• 2026/27:2x the base Household Packaging Waste Disposal (HPWD) fee
• 2027/28:6x the base fee
• 2028/29:0x the base fee

For businesses shipping thousands of products monthly, creating household waste, these fees compound into substantial costs. A packaging item receiving a Red rating will cost twice the base fee by 2028/29. Multiply that across your entire packaging portfolio, and the financial impact becomes severe, and entirely avoidable with urgent action now.

Meanwhile, competitors who complete their RAM assessments before the deadline and achieve 'Green' or 'Amber' ratings, will benefit from reduced fees funded by the additional revenue generated from Red-rated packaging. The gap between businesses that acted and those that delayed will widen dramatically, with every pound saved on packaging fees becoming available for reinvestment in innovation, customer experience or market expansion.

Understanding RAM V.1.1: The framework determining your costs

Since 1 January 2025, RAM V.1.1 has been the mandatory framework for large producers - companies with over £2 million turnover handling 50+ tonnes of packaging annually. This methodology determines how the UK assesses packaging recyclability and, critically, how much you'll pay in fees.

The RAM assessment classifies packaging into eight material types: aluminium, fibre-based composites, glass, paper/board, plastic, steel, wood and other materials. Through a five-stage evaluation process, each item receives a 'Red', 'Amber' or 'Green' rating based on its recyclability in UK infrastructure.

The five stages are:

1. Classification - Categorising packaging into the appropriate material type
2. Collection - Assessing whether packaging is widely collected (75% of UK local authorities) or has limited collection (50% coverage)
3. Sortation - Evaluating whether materials can pass through sorting facilities (minimum 40mm in two dimensions)
4. Reprocessing - Determining if the material can be recycled in existing UK systems
5. Application - Assessing whether there's market demand for the recycled material

Following PackUK's simplification sprint, several important changes were implemented in May 2025. For paper and board packaging, the retained residue condition that previously triggered automatic Red ratings has been removed, benefiting food packaging producers significantly. For plastic bottles, the 40% label coverage condition has been eliminated, allowing beverage manufacturers to achieve better ratings without redesigning labelling strategies.

However, certain characteristics still trigger automatic Red ratings: integrated electrical components, substances of very high concern (SVHCs), non-compliant inks and PFAS materials (except for aluminium, steel and glass).

ERP UK’s LAMB Data Service: Your fastest route to compliance

LAMB (Light Assessment for Modulated Base fees) is a specific, RAM Scoping and checking tool, provided by ERP UK, that allows producers to input their own data into the RAM framework, acting as an easier way to achieve compliance.

ERP UK’s fully outsourced RAM service

RAM reporting involves substantial data collection challenges, and is an administrative burden for many companies. For packaging producers with hundreds or thousands of SKUs, gathering detailed information about packaging materials, weights, dimensions, compositions and supply chain flows represents a significant undertaking, particularly when you're working to a deadline

Product packaging may vary by market, by production run or by supplier. Specifications may exist in different formats across multiple systems. Historical data may be incomplete or inconsistent. With the deadline this close, attempting to manage this internally whilst maintaining business operations creates unnecessary risk.

ERP UK's RAM data service provides a fast and reliable route to compliance. Our team handles the complex data collection and assessment process, ensuring accuracy while freeing your internal resources to focus on core business operations. We understand the urgency, we know the methodology and we have the systems to deliver compliant reporting

For businesses seeking complete hands-off support, our full RAM service provides end-to-end management of the assessment process, from data collection through to submission.

Plastic recycling: Where urgent assessment matters most

Plastic packaging represents both the greatest challenge and the most significant opportunity within RAM V.1.1. The recyclability of plastic packaging varies enormously depending on polymer type, colour, additives and format, and these variations directly impact your fee structure.

Clear PET bottles might achieve 'Green' ratings with minimal intervention, while black plastic trays or multi-layer films could face substantial fees. The difference between a Green and Red rating for plastic packaging can be dramatic, and with the deadline looming, identifying which of your plastic packaging items need urgent attention is critical.

Small changes can help. For example, switching from coloured to clear PET, eliminating problematic additives or redesigning multi-material formats can dramatically improve recyclability ratings while maintaining product protection and shelf appeal. But these optimisations require proper assessment first, and that assessment needs to happen now.

The methodology's three-year stability period means ratings achieved before the deadline will remain valid, giving you confidence that the effort invested now delivers lasting value.

The financial stakes: £1.5 billion being redistributed

Let's be absolutely clear about the scale of what's happening. The £1.5 billion annual industry bill for packaging waste disposal will be distributed based on recyclability ratings. Businesses with unassessed or poorly-rated packaging will pay substantially more, subsidising competitors who invested in proper assessment and optimisation.

This redistribution is already underway. The first HPWD invoices were issued in October 2025. From April 2026 onwards, invoices will reflect the full RAM-based fee structure, with the complete impact of Red, Amber and Green ratings visible in your costs.

In markets where margins are tight, this cost differential could prove decisive. Beyond direct financial implications, proper RAM compliance demonstrates environmental responsibility to increasingly eco-conscious consumers, supports sustainability commitments and prepares businesses for future regulatory developments.

Consider ERP UK for urgent RAM compliance

ERP UK has supported over 700 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 meet critical deadlines.

Our proven capabilities include:                               

• LAMB data service – RAM checking tool provides a streamlined process for businesses with smaller packaging components portfolios
• Full RAM service - Complete end-to-end management from data collection to submission
• Deadline-focused delivery - We understand urgency and have the systems to deliver compliant reporting fast

For pEPR compliance, partnering with specialists who can deliver rapid, accurate compliance is essential. We've helped hundreds of businesses navigate RAM requirements, and we can help you meet your RAM reporting requirements with confidence.

Don't let the RAM reporting deadline pass

The April deadline is fast approaching. With urgent action and expert support, you can still complete your RAM assessments, submit compliant reporting and avoid the automatic Red classifications that will cost your business substantially more in fees for years to come.

What’s the best way to proceed if you don’t feel ready for RAM reporting? Contact packaging compliance specialists immediately, engage rapid assessment support and ensure your reporting is submitted before the deadline.

ERP UK's packaging recycling expertise and comprehensive compliance services can help you navigate the assessment process, optimise your packaging portfolio and ensure you're positioned for the most favorable fee structure possible.

Don't let the deadline pass and leave your business facing years of avoidable cost.

Contact our team today to discuss how our LAMB data service or full RAM service can deliver compliance reporting.

Related services

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

For more information about Extended Producer Responsibility - visit the webpage here

About ERP UK

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E-mail: uk@erp-recycling.org

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