Third party logistics, sleeving and contract packing specialist, Prism eLogistics, is advising brands to review packaging now to ensure they minimise EPR fees ahead of the end of February reporting deadline.
The RAM 1 assessment classifies packaging on the basis of a five-stage evaluation, receiving a rating of red, amber or green depending on its recyclability within the UK’s existing recycling infrastructure.
For items graded as red, businesses will be charged 1.2x the base Household Packaging Waste Disposal (HPWD) fee for 2026/27, escalating to 1.6x the base fee for 2027/28, and 2x the base fee in 2028/29. An important note is that items for which no information has been submitted will automatically be classified as red.
While reclassification is possible, the timescale for this is unclear, and the process requires submission of evidence to the RAM Technical Advisory Committee for review. With this in mind, businesses should look to the changes which can be made now to minimise paying the higher rate.
Ian Wright, managing director at Prism eLogistics commented:
“As we move closer to the end of February deadline, it may feel as though time has run out for making classification-shifting changes to packaging, but this is not the case. At Prism, we’ve been advising clients on the relatively simple ways they can manage fees, both in terms of the materials being used and the volume of packaging per item.
“A key point for those using PET bottles is labelling. By changing your sleeving you could impact your classification. EcoFloat shrink sleeving, which is specifically engineered to improve the sink/float separation process, can be recycled through established PP recycling streams, which makes the sleeve fully recyclable, meaning 100% of the bottle and decoration can be recycled – a key criteria within the assessment.
“Another recommendation we’ve been making to beverage clients is to remove trays from multi-can packaging. More and more major brands are going trayless, with no objection from retailers, and this small change can have a big impact on overall material consumption, again impacting on the fees businesses may be liable for as part of EPR.
“The crucial point is to act now, to audit packaging and make optimisations where possible. As packaging specialists we’re doing all we can to provide clients with advice which will help them to not only navigate new and evolving regulations but which will actually impact the bottom line for the upcoming financial year.”
For more information on EPR, contact PackUk or review Government guidance here.