Statutory guidance

RAM 2027 materials assessment guidance

Published 1 July 2026

This guidance explains the: 

• steps you must follow to assess recyclability of items of packaging and components you supply  

• red, amber, green assessment criteria for each packaging material for the 2027 reporting year (1 January to 31 December 2027) 

• evidence you need to retain and how to report your recyclability assessment methodology (RAM) data 

You should read this alongside the RAM overview.  

Use version 1.1 of the RAM if you’re assessing or reporting recyclability data for the 2026 reporting year (1 January to 31 December 2026). 

Step 1: check automatic red packaging 

You must rate your packaging as red automatically if any of the following apply:  

• there are integrated electrical components that would be classed as electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) or batteries and accumulators – for example, boxes that include light emitting diode (LED) lights  
• there are substances of concern in packaging or components that exceed limits under UK REACH, substances of very high concern (SVHCs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), biocides regulations,  chemical classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) 
• inks are used that are not manufactured in compliance with the European Printing Ink Association charter on raw material selection and exclusion for printing inks and related products
• an item or component contains more than 1 parts per million (ppm) of total perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (individual or sum), or PFAS in food packaging exceeding 25 parts per billion (ppb) for any individual or total  PFAS 
• food contact packaging that does not comply with applicable UK food contact materials legislation (including restrictions on substances that may migrate into food) 
• packaging formats subject to UK regulatory restrictions or phase-outs, including certain single-use plastic packaging formats that are restricted due to their environmental impact, even where technically recyclable   

You do not need to carry out any further assessment on this packaging. 

Step 2: assess material category (classification) 

You must report your packaging under the correct material category. 

The material category you report under depends on whether you assess your packaging as: 

• separate components 

• a whole packaging item formed of integrated components (an item of packaging) 

You must have evidence that packaging meets the definition of the material you’re reporting under. 

Material categories are: 

• paper or board 
• fibre-based composite (FBC) materials–liquid cartons and non-liquid cartons 
• plastic – flexibles and rigids 
• steel  
• aluminium 
• glass 
• wood 
• other materials 

Separate components 

You must assess and report the material of each component separately if it:   

• is distinct from the main body of the packaging item–for example, the plastic blister in a multipack of batteries is distinct from the cardboard backing 

• needs to be separated from an item of packaging to use the product, and cannot be reassembled–for example, a tear off strip or wine bottle cork  

Whole packaging item formed of integrated components (an item of packaging) 

You must assess and rate an item of packaging as the greatest (predominant) material by weight if:  

• assembled components of different materials that make up an item of packaging cannot be separated – for example, an aerosol can that is only separable by mechanical sortation or by using tools   

• components are not intended to be removed from an item of packaging – for example, a label applied to packaging with adhesive that remains attached throughout the sortation process  

• a component is smaller than 40mm in at least 2 dimensions, but can be re-attached to the item of packaging – for example, a bottle cap or lid that can be reattached to the bottle 

Assessing items using predominant material by weight means that in some cases packaging materials usually rated red or amber may be rated green.  

For example, a label – which would be assessed as red as a separate component (plastic flexibles) – can be assessed as green as an integrated component if attached to the item of packaging (glass jar) with adhesive. 

Step 3: assess recyclability  

You must assess recyclability of items of packaging and components under each relevant material, at each stage of recyclability: 

• collection 

• sortation 

• reprocessing 

• application 

Items of packaging and components must be: 

• assessed as green at each stage to receive a final green rating 

• assessed as green or amber at each stage to receive a final amber rating 

• reported as red if they are assessed as red at any stage – you do not need to carry out any further assessment 

• reported as red if you do not have evidence that the packaging meets either an amber or green rating – contact your supplier if you are missing technical details or evidence that you need to complete your assessment  

Indicative RAM ratings are shown for each material category based on current likely outcomes at each recyclability stage. However, these ratings may change depending on whether you are assessing your packaging as: 

• separate components 
• an item of packaging (using predominant material by weight) 

Take-back schemes 

Take-back schemes can be used for materials that are not collected at kerbside (commonly collected or limited collection). If you use a take-back scheme to collect your packaging, you must have evidence that the scheme is able to process the packaging material at each recycling stage. 

Packaging recycled using a take-back scheme can only be rated amber if you have evidence of processing at each stage, otherwise it is red. 

If you use a take-back scheme, you do not need to follow the materials assessment guidance on this page. You should read take-back information to understand scheme criteria and evidence requirements.

Paper or board 

Possible ratings for paper or board: green, amber, red. 

Examples of paper or board include: 

• cardboard boxes and sleeves 

• corrugated cardboard – for example, shipping packaging 

• paperboard – for example, cereal boxes and tissue boxes 

• flexible paper packaging – for example, wrappers and pouches 

• moulded fibre – for example, egg boxes 

You must assess paper or board packaging with plastic content greater than 5% by mass as FBC materials. 

Assess paper content 

You must calculate the total paper content of your packaging to accurately assess it at each stage of recyclability.  

Paper content (weight%) can be determined by dividing the total mass of the non-separable elements defined as paper content (gsm) by the total mass of the item or component (gsm). 

Non-separable elements defined as paper content are: 

• fibre – wood-based cellulose fibres 
• filler – minerals typically used in the industry, such as CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) or kaolin 
• additive – chemicals used for the paper making process, such as sizing agents, dry or wet strength agents, retention aids, defoamers, dyes, and pigments 
• colour coating – mineralised coating layers used to enhance the brightness and printability of the paper 
• water 

If the item of packaging or component uses alternatives to cellulosic wood derived fibres, you must provide evidence that they: 

• are appropriate for use in papermaking  
• can be reprocessed without causing challenges in the processes or affecting other packaging waste materials 

Stage 1: paper or board collection 

Green  

Paper or board packaging is collected at the kerbside by at least 75% of local authorities in the UK (commonly collected) and can be rated green unless it is listed as red at this stage. 

Check packaging that is commonly collected for 2027 and previous reporting years. 

Amber  

Assess paper or board packaging that is not commonly collected as amber if you can meet take-back scheme evidence requirements. 

Red  

Assess a packaging item or component as red if it is: 

• paper or board with glitter adhered to it 
• padded polyethylene (PE) lined envelopes   
• greaseproof, siliconised, or  waxed  paper  or  board – packaging  that  uses  fibre densification such as greaseproof paper, or a continuous surface treatment such as a wax or silicone coating layer applied to the paper or board (wax dispersion coatings and silicone in linerless labels are exempt)  

Stage 2: paper or board sortation 

Green 

Assess your item of packaging or component as green if it is at least 40mm in at least 2 dimensions. 

Red 

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it does not meet the 40mm size threshold and cannot be reattached to the main body of the packaging item. 

Stage 3: paper or board reprocessing 

Green 

Assess your item of packaging or component as green at this stage if it does not contain any contaminants listed as amber or red. 

Amber 

Assess your item of packaging or component as amber if it contains non-paper content greater than  10% by weight. 

You must assess paper labels that contain silicone used as a release coating (for example, in linerless labels) as amber if the silicone content of the total label is greater than 0.3% by weight. 

Red 

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it: 

• contains non-paper content greater than 15% by weight  

• contains urea-formaldehyde  

• contains urea-melamine  

• contains glass or carbon fibres  

• is designed for food to be heated within it – this is because it is likely to be contaminated when disposed of 

Stage 4: paper or board application 

Green 

Assess your item of packaging or component as green at this stage if it does not contain contaminants listed as amber or red. 

Amber 

Assess your item of packaging or component as amber if it contains any of the following: 

• non-wood-based fibres such as bagasse, palm, rice straw, wheat straw, barley straw, oat straw, grass straw, flax, hemp, and bamboo  

• adhesive lamination (inside of pack) of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), metallised PET, or PET-PE 

• wax dispersion, including microcrystalline waxes (this does not apply to waxes used in printing inks)  

Red 

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it contains any of the following: 

• polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer dispersion coatings 

• lamination with aluminium foil where the coating thickness is greater than or equal to 6 microns (µm)  

Fibre-based composite materials (liquid cartons) 

Possible RAM ratings: amber, red.  

FBC liquid cartons are made of fibre with thin layers of plastic, aluminium or both, designed to safely hold liquids. 

Examples of FBC liquid cartons include: 

• milk, juice or soup cartons 

• plant‑based drink cartons – for example, cartons of oat or almond milk 

• soaps or detergents 

If the liquid carton has a lid attached to it made of a different material (for example, plastic) this should be assessed as part of the FBC liquid carton. 

Stage 1: FBC (liquid cartons) collection 

Amber 

FBC liquid cartons are collected at kerbside by 50 to 75% of local authorities across the UK (limited collection) and are therefore rated amber at this stage. 

Stage 2: FBC (liquid cartons) sortation 

Green 

Assess your item of packaging or component as green if it is at least 40mm in at least 2 dimensions. 

Red 

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it does not meet the 40mm size threshold, including undersized components that cannot be reattached to the main body of the packaging item. 

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it has an outer layer made of anything other than  PE or paper. 

Stage 3: FBC (liquid cartons) reprocessing 

Amber 

FBC liquid cartons are technically recyclable but cannot be reprocessed at scale within the existing household packaging recycling infrastructure. 

Therefore, all FBC liquid carton packaging should be rated amber at this stage unless it contains contaminants listed as red at this stage. 

Red 

Assess your FBC item of packaging or component as red if the polymer content contains: 

• less than 80% PE 

• more than 20% polypropylene (PP)  

• more than 5% PET  

• any proportion of biodegradable polymers  

Stage 4: FBC (liquid cartons) application 

Amber 

Assess your item of packaging or component as amber if it contains:  

• aluminium 

• PE between 80% and 90% by weight of polymer content  

• PP between 10% and 20% by weight by polymer content  

• PET with less than or equal to 5% by weight of polymer content  

• wax coatings, including wax emulsions and dispersions – this does not apply to waxes used in printing inks  

Red 

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it contains: 

• urea-formaldehyde  

• urea-melamine  

• glass or carbon fibres 

• silicone 

Fibre-based composite materials (non-liquid cartons) 

Possible RAM ratings: green, amber, red.  

Examples of FBC (non-liquid cartons) include: 

• packaging for dry foods – for example, rice, sugar, flour mixes 

• packaging for snacks or cereals with an inner barrier layer 

• boxes for products like washing detergents that need moisture protection 

• moulded fibre-based packs or trays for ready meals with a plastic coating 

• single-use beverage containers such as coffee cups 

Stage 1: FBC (non-liquid cartons) collection 

Green 

FBC (non-liquid cartons) packaging is collected at the kerbside by at least 75% of local authorities in the UK (commonly collected) and can be rated green unless it is listed as red at this stage. 

Check packaging that is commonly collected for 2027 and previous reporting years. 

Amber  

Assess FBC (non-liquid cartons) packaging that is not commonly collected as amber if you can meet take-back scheme evidence requirements.

Red  

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it is: 

• FBC packaging with more than 15% non-paper content by weight  

• padded PE lined envelopes   

• single-use beverage containers such as coffee cups 

Stage 2: FBC (non-liquid cartons) sortation 

Green 

Assess your item of packaging or component as green if it is at least 40mm in at least 2 dimensions. 

Red 

Assess your item of packaging or components as red if it does not meet the 40mm size threshold, including undersized components that cannot be reattached to the main body of the packaging item. 

Stage 3: FBC (non-liquid cartons) reprocessing 

Red 

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it: 

• contains urea-formaldehyde  

• contains urea-melamine  

• contains glass or carbon fibres  

• contains silicone  

• contains 2-sided lamination, such as PE-paper-PE, PP-paper-PP, PET-paper-PET – unless there is clear  consumer  guidance for  separating  the lamination  component  and disposing of it in the appropriate kerbside waste stream  

• contains 2-sided wax coating, such as molten wax dip coating – this does not apply to waxes used in printing inks  

• is designed for food to be heated within it – this is because it is likely to be contaminated when disposed of 

Stage 4: FBC (non-liquid cartons) application  

Amber 

Assess your item of packaging or component as amber if it contains:  

• non-paper content greater than 10% by weight  

• aluminium 

• non-wood-based fibres such as bagasse, palm, rice straw, wheat straw, barley straw, oat straw, grass straw, flax, hemp, and bamboo  

• adhesive lamination (inside of pack) of PET, metallised PET, or PET-PE 

• wax dispersion, including microcrystalline waxes but does not apply to waxes used in printing inks  

Red 

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it contains:  

• PVDC or PVC polymer dispersion coatings 

• lamination with aluminium foil where the coating thickness is greater than or equal to 6 microns (µm)  

Plastic (flexibles) 

Possible RAM ratings: amber, red 

You cannot currently rate flexible packaging items as green.  

Plastics (flexibles) are packaging structures which flex easily, and whose shape is likely to change significantly after the contents are added or removed by the consumer. This packaging could be made of single or multiple laminate layers of materials.  

Examples of plastics (flexibles) include: 

• bags 

• pouches 

• envelopes 

• sachets 

• sleeves 

• wrappers 

• lidding film or liners 

• crisp packets 

• fruit nets 

• multipack rings or yokes 

• twist ties 

Plastic (flexibles) can be made from various types of plastic polymers, including polyolefins (PO), PE, PP, and PVC, also including metallised films.  

Bio-based^{[footnote 1]} (drop-in) plastics can be assessed in the same way as their traditional fossil-plastic equivalent if they: 

• are chemically identical  

• do not cause quality issues when mixed with their fossil-plastic equivalent 

Examples could include bio-PE replacing PE, or bio-PP replacing PP. 

Bio-based plastics are those made using polymers derived from plant-based sources such as starch, cellulose, or lignin. They may be engineered to be biodegradable in some cases. 

Plastic (flexibles) packaging is not collected at kerbside for recycling and is not sorted or reprocessed at scale within household packaging infrastructure.  

Plastic (flexibles) packaging should be rated red, unless you can meet take-back scheme evidence requirements. If you can meet these evidence requirements you can rate plastic (flexibles) as amber. 

You do not need to carry out any further recyclability assessment. 

Plastic (flexibles) packaging may be collected at kerbside. In this case you will be able to continue to use take-back schemes alongside kerbside collection for the 2027 reporting year. 

Plastic (rigids) 

Possible RAM ratings: green, amber, red. 

Plastics (rigids) are packaging structures which do not: 

• flex easily 

• change shape significantly when the contents are added or removed by the consumer 

 These materials are typically stiff and durable, offering protection and support for a wide range of products.  

Common examples of rigid plastic packaging include: 

• bottles 

• pots 

• tubs 

• trays 

• fruit and vegetable punnets 

• rigid lids 

• tubes including mono-material laminates – for example, some toothpaste tube designs, that may appear as a hard-rigid or softer-rigid plastic 

• caps and closures 

• cable ties 

• plastic strapping 

You should assess rigid plastic packaging according to the packaging format it most closely represents. For example, a rigid thermoformed PET lid or pot should be assessed in the same way as a rigid thermoformed PET tray. 

You can assess bio-based (drop-in) plastics in the same way as their traditional fossil-plastic equivalent if they: 

• are chemically identical  

• do not cause quality issues when mixed with their fossil-plastic equivalent 

 Examples could include bio-PE replacing PE, or bio-PP replacing PP. 

Stage 1: plastics (rigids) collection 

Green 

Items of packaging and components predominantly made from PET, PE, and PP are collected at the kerbside by at least 75% of local authorities in the UK (commonly collected) and can be rated green unless it is listed as red (or amber if using takeback) at this stage. 

Amber 

Assess plastic (rigids) packaging that is not commonly collected as amber if you can meet take-back scheme evidence requirements. 

Check packaging that is commonly collected for 2027 and previous reporting years. 

Stage 2: plastics (rigids) sortation 

Green 

Assess your item of packaging or component as green if it is at least 40mm in at least 2 dimensions. 

Amber 

Assess your item of packaging or component as amber if it has an attached label or sleeve of a different material or polymer type, covering more than 60% of its surface area.  

Enrobed paper or board sleeves incorporating clear disposal information for the consumer about their removal are exempt from this amber rating. 

Red 

Assess your component as red if it does not meet the 40mm size threshold and cannot be reattached to the main body of the packaging item. 

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it uses carbon black that prevents effective near-infra red (NIR) detection. 

Stage 3: plastics (rigids) reprocessing 

Green 

Assess items of packaging and components as green at this stage if they do not contain any of contaminants listed as red.  

Red 

Assess items of packaging and components as red if they contain:  

• PVC (including non-PVC with PVC components)  

• polystyrene (including but not limited to high impact polystyrene (HIPS), expanded and extruded)  

• expanded PE  

• oxo-degradable^{[footnote 2]}, biodegradable or compostable plastics^{[footnote 3]}  

• non-polyolefin foamed plastics, such as non-PP and non-PE  

• trigger  sprays or similar mechanisms containing glass, metal, non-PE or PP plastics, or other non-plastic components  

Assess your item of packaging or component as red if it uses a label adhesive that does not release the label during a standard 70 to 90°C hot wash.  

Assess PET bottle items of packaging and components as red if they contain:  

• any use of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) 

• caps, seals or valves made of anything other than PET with a density greater than 1g per cm3  

• attached labels or sleeves made of any polymer other than PET with a density greater than 1g per cm3 

• silicone  

Assess PET thermoform items of packaging and components as red if they contain:  

• any use of EVOH 

• any use of non-PET multilayers or laminates, for example PE seal layers 

• attached labels or sleeves made of any polymer other than PET with a density greater than 1g per cm3  

Assess high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and PP items of packaging and components as red if they contain:  

• EVOH greater than 5% by weight  

• additives that increase the packaging density greater than or equal to 1g per cm3  

• PVDC barriers or coatings  

• caps comprised of steel, aluminium, polystyrene (PS), PVC, or thermoset plastics   

• attached labels or sleeves comprised of PVC, aluminium, metallised PET, or metallised PS  

• inserts, liners, or seals comprised of PS, PVC, polyurethane (PU), nylon (or polyamide (PA), heavy PET, polycarbonate (PC), acrylic (PMMA), thermoset plastics, or silicone  

Stage 4: plastics (rigids) application 

Green 

Assess items of packaging and components as green if they do not contain any contaminants or additives listed as amber or red.  

Amber 

Assess PET bottle items of packaging and components as amber if they contain:  

• external coatings or PA-3 layers  

• UV stabilisers (preventing degradation, not ultraviolet (UV) filters or blockers), Acetaldehyde (AA) blockers  

Assess PET thermoform items of packaging and components as amber if they contain:  

• O2 scavengers, UV stabilisers (preventing degradation, not UV filters or blockers), and AA blockers  

• inserts comprised of HDPE, LDPE, PP, PET, or paper  

• any NIR-detectable colour other than transparent clear – this does not include crystallised PET

Assess HDPE items of packaging and components as amber if they contain:  

• PA including Nylon-MXD6 as barriers or coatings  

Assess PP items of packaging and components as amber if they contain:  

• PA including Nylon-MXD6 as barriers or coatings  

• inserts comprised of HDPE, LDPE, paper, or PET  

Red 

Assess items of packaging and components as red if they contain foil that is not designed to be permanently removed prior to disposal. This does not include tear-off foil seals or closures, such as those used on a HDPE milk bottle or a PP yoghurt tub. 

Assess PET bottle items of packaging and components as red if they contain any:  

• colour other than clear or translucent light blue – this applies to the plastic itself and does not apply to any printed inks used  

• direct printing unless for the batch code or expiry date  

Assess PET thermoform items of packaging and components as red if they contain any:  

• non-NIR detectable colour 

• direct printing unless for the batch code or expiry date  

Assess clear or white coloured HDPE or PP items of packaging and components as red if they  contain any direct printing, unless for the batch code or expiry date. This does not include in-mould labels if they are made from the same polymer type as the main item of packaging.

Steel 

Possible RAM ratings: green, amber, red

Examples of steel in packaging include: 

• food containers or tins 

• aerosols 

• cans 

• lids from glass bottles or jars 

• rigid steel containers 

• closures 

Stage 1: steel collection 

Steel-based items of packaging and components are collected at the kerbside by at least 75% of local authorities in the UK (commonly collected) and can be rated green at this stage.  

Check packaging that is commonly collected for 2027 and previous reporting years. 

Stage 2: steel sortation 

Green 

Assess items of packaging or components less than or equal to 300mm in height, width or length as green. 

Amber 

Assess items of packaging and components as amber if they exceed 300mm in height, width or length, unless the oversized component can be folded by the consumer to meet this size threshold. 

Stage 3: steel reprocessing 

You should assess items of packaging and components as green at this stage if they have been assessed as green or amber at collection and sortation stages. 

Stage 4: steel application 

Green 

Assess items of packaging or components as green if they contain less than or equal to 30% non-steel content by weight.  

Amber 

Assess items of packaging and components as amber if they contain more than 30% non-steel content by weight. 

Aluminium 

Possible RAM ratings: green, amber, red

Examples of aluminium packaging include: 

• food containers or tins 

• lids from glass bottles or jars 

• aluminium tubes 

• bottles 

• cans 

• rigid containers 

• closures 

• aerosols 

• foil trays 

• laminated foils 

Stage 1: aluminium collection 

Green 

Aluminium-based items of packaging and components are collected at the kerbside by at least 75% of local authorities in the UK (commonly collected) and can be rated green at this stage.  

Check packaging that is commonly collected for 2027 and previous reporting years. 

Stage 2: aluminium sortation 

Green 

Assess items of packaging or components less than or equal to 300mm in height, width or length as green. 

Amber 

Assess items of packaging and components as amber if they exceed 300mm in height, width or length, unless the oversized component can be folded by the consumer so that the resulting broken down or folded components meet the size threshold. 

Stage 3: aluminium reprocessing 

Assess items of packaging and components as green at this stage if they have been assessed as green or amber at collection and sortation stages. 

Stage 4: aluminium application 

Green 

Assess items of packaging or components as green if they contain less than or equal to 30% non-aluminium content by weight.  

Amber 

Assess items of packaging and components as amber if they contain more than 30% non-aluminium content by weight. 

Glass 

Possible RAM ratings: green, amber, red 

Common examples of glass packaging could include: 

• bottles 

• jars 

• perfume bottles and deodorant containers or flacons 

• pots, ramekins and cosmetics containers 

Stage 1: glass collection 

Green 

Soda-lime silica-based glass items of packaging and components are collected at the kerbside by at least 75% of local authorities in the UK (commonly collected) and can be rated green at this stage unless listed as red. 

Check packaging that is commonly collected for 2027 and previous reporting years. 

Amber 

Assess glass packaging that is not commonly collected as amber if you can meet take-back scheme evidence requirements. 

Red 

Assess the following items of packaging and components as red at collection stage: 

• mirrors or non‑mirrored flat glass  

• lead crystal glass  

• heat-resistant glass – for example, borosilicate and aluminosilicate glass  

• pyro‑ceramic or ceramic glass  

• any other non-soda-lime-silica glass   

Stage 2: glass sortation 

Items of packaging and components assessed as green at collection can be assessed as green at sortation stage. 

Stage 3: glass reprocessing 

Items of packaging and components assessed as green at collection and sortation can be assessed as green at reprocessing stage. 

Stage 4: glass application 

Items of packaging and components assessed as green at each stage can be assessed as green at application stage.   

Wood 

Possible RAM ratings: amber, red 

Examples include: 

• decorative and novel components 

• food trays 

• wooden batons 

• wooden pallets 

Wood packaging is not collected at kerbside for recycling and is not sorted or reprocessed at scale within household packaging infrastructure.  

Wood packaging should be rated red, unless you can meet take-back scheme evidence requirements. If you can meet these evidence requirements you can rate wood as amber. 

You do not need to carry out any further recyclability assessment. 

Other materials  

Possible RAM ratings: amber, red 

Examples of other materials include:  

• non-plastic textiles, string, ribbon 

• cork 

• bamboo 

• ceramic/porcelain 

• copper 

• hemp 

• rubber 

• silicone 

• bagasse (sugarcane fibre moulded packaging) 

• natural fibres – for example, jute, coir, sisal 

• leather or bonded leather materials 

• stone or slate 

Other materials packaging is not collected at kerbside for recycling and is not sorted or reprocessed at scale within household packaging infrastructure.  

Other packaging should be rated red, unless you can meet take-back scheme evidence requirements. If you can meet these evidence requirements you can rate other materials as amber. 

You do not need to carry out any further recyclability assessment. 

Medical packaging    

If you are supplying household packaging that might be medical, you must check it meets the definition of medical packaging set out in regulation 2(2) of The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. 

Medical packaging is immediate or outer packaging on:    

• medicinal products    

• veterinary medicinal products    

• medical devices    

Immediate packaging is the container or other form of packaging that is immediately in contact with the medicinal product.    

Outer packaging is any packaging into which the immediate packaging of the medicinal product is placed.    

You can use the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance to check if your product is a medicine.   

Reporting medical packaging 

Medical packaging rated as red can be reported as amber if you have evidence that another regulation prevents you from using a more recyclable material (known as Red by Virtue of a Regulatory Requirement (RBVORR)). 

If reporting as amber using RBVORR, you must keep clear, specific evidence. This evidence must:    

• identify the regulation that requires the packaging to be designed in that way (including the regulation name and specific paragraph or reference)    

• show how that regulation prevents the use of more recyclable materials    

• be provided for each packaging component and for each product    

How to report your RAM assessments    

You must report your RAM assessments alongside other EPR for packaging data using the report packaging data (RPD) service. 

Deadlines for reporting are: 

• 1 October (to report January to June data of the same year) 

• 1 April (to report July to December data of the previous year) 

Read more guidance about how to report recyclability and other packaging data. 

Examples of how to report  

Materials assessed separately    

Multi-material items of packaging and components that are assessed separately should be:   

• reported as separate materials   

• assigned the relevant RAM rating for each material   

Example: household jam jar 

A household jar of jam comprising a glass jar, a paper label, a steel lid, a hessian lid cover, and a string tie. 

	Jar	Label	Lid	String Tie	Hessian Lid cover
Material category assessed in RAM	glass	glass (based on predominant material)	steel	other (non-plastic textile)	other
RAM rating (illustrative only)	green	green	green	red	red
Reported as on RPD	glass - green	paper or board - green	steel - green	other - red	other - red

Where the label and jar are not intended to be separated, they are assessed as an item of packaging using predominant material by weight to determine the material category – in this case, the green rating of the glass jar. However, each material must be reported in accordance with the regulations, along with the assigned RAM rating (red, amber or green). This means that the label and jar are reported as separate materials in RPD, but with a common  green RAM rating. 

Example: household pack of batteries 

A household pack of batteries in packaging made from a clear moulded plastic blister that is attached to a cardboard backing, where the plastic component can be separated from the card component. 

In this example, the blister meets the criteria to be rated amber at the plastic (rigids) application stage. The cardboard backing is separated to use the product and cannot be reassembled, so is assessed as a separate component with a green rating. 

	Blister	Backing
Material category assessed in RAM	plastic - rigid	paper or board
RAM rating (illustrative only)	amber	green
Reported as on RPD	plastic - amber	paper or board - green

Example: household bottle of detergent 

A household detergent bottle made from a clear plastic PET bottle, PP cap and PE label should be assessed as a whole item of packaging using predominant material by weight. 

The cap is an undersized item that does not meet the dimension threshold for sortation but can be reattached by the consumer to the item of packaging (the bottle) as an integrated component. The non-separable label is also an integrated component. 

The bottle is considered an item of packaging formed from these integrated components and should continue to be assessed as a whole item.  

	Detergent bottle	Cap	Label
Material category assessed in RAM	plastic - rigid (predominant material)	plastic - rigid (undersized for separate sortation and assessment)	plastic - rigid
RAM rating (illustrative only)	green	green	green
Reported as on RPD	plastic - rigid - green	plastic - rigid – green	plastic - flexible - green

Each material must be reported in accordance with the regulations along with the assigned RAM rating (red, amber, green). This means that the bottle, label and lid should be reported separately in RPD, but with a common green plastic RAM rating. 

Example: household FBC liquid carton 

A household liquid carton (not meeting the definition of a drink container) with the carton made of a FBC material with a plastic cap.

	Liquid Carton	Cap
Material category assessed in RAM	FBC (predominant material)	FBC (undersized for sortation and separate assessment)
RAM rating (illustrative only)	amber	amber
Reported as on RPD	FBC - amber	plastic - rigid - amber

The cap is an undersized item that does not meet the dimension threshold for sortation but can be reattached to the item of packaging (the liquid carton) and should be considered as an integrated component of the item of packaging to continue the assessment. 

Each material must be reported in accordance with the regulations along with the assigned RAM rating (red, amber, green). In this case, this would mean that the tonnages associated with the carton and cap are reported separately, with a common amber RAM rating (based on the carton, as the predominant material). 

Example: household aerosol can 

A household aerosol can made from an aluminium can, undersized PP cap or lid, and a predominantly rigid plastic valve assembly which should be assessed as using the predominant material of the item of packaging. 

	Can	Cap	Valve, Nozzle, Tube assembly
Material category assessed in RAM	aluminium (predominant material)	aluminium (undersized for separate sortation and assessment)	aluminium (predominant material)
RAM rating (illustrative only)	green	green	green
Reported as on RPD	aluminium - green	plastic – rigid - green	plastic - rigid - green

If the cap in this example was more than 40mm in any 2 dimensions, it would be assessed as a separate component, as a rigid plastic. As it is undersized, it should be assessed as an integrated component with the rating of the predominant material by weight (aluminium) – a green rating. The valve, nozzle and tube assembly are also assessed as the predominant material by weight (aluminium) as they are not removable from the item of packaging. 

Evidence you must keep   

You do not need to submit evidence of your recyclability assessments, but you must keep the following records for 7 years and provide it to regulators if they ask for it:   

• evidence to prove you applied the correct RAM rating to your packaging   

• evidence to prove you applied RBVORR correctly for medical packaging, if this applies  

Re-submitting your RAM assessment 

You must update your recyclability assessments if:    

• the design, manufacture or composition of the packaging changes    

• the RAM changes in a way that is likely to affect the outcome of the assessment for the 2027 reporting year (you should continue to use RAM version 1.1to assess recyclability for the 2026 reporting year)  

• there is likely to be a change to the outcome of the assessment for any other reason  

Before re-submitting your assessment, you should consider any other relevant statements from PackUK about recalculating notices of liability. 

Recyclability testing  

Suppliers should follow recognised international standards for recyclability testing. Testing must be completed for each component assessed under the RAM and should be relevant to all stages of recyclability set out in the RAM. 

If test results show specific packaging materials rated as red can be collected, sorted, and recycled within current recycling infrastructure at scale, you can submit these results to PackUK as evidence to consider for future iterations of the  RAM.    

Get help with your assessment 

If you’re a member of a compliance scheme, you should contact them for queries about the RAM and assessing your packaging.    

Contact the packaging manufacturer if: 

• you do not know what the packaging you supply is made of  

• you’re missing other technical details or evidence that you need to complete your assessment 

Contact PackUK if you have any further queries. 

Email: eprcustomerservice@defra.gov.uk

1. As defined in the Summary of responses to the call for evidence for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics and Government Response ↩

2. As defined in the HSAC 2024 review of oxo-degradable polymers ↩

3. As defined in the Summary of responses to the call for evidence for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics and Government Response ↩