What is the Recyclability Assessment Methodology?
The Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) is the UK's standardised framework for evaluating whether a piece of packaging can actually be recycled in practice — not just in theory. Developed collaboratively by OPRL (On-Pack Recycling Label) and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), RAM replaced the patchwork of informal recyclability claims that previously existed across the industry.
Before RAM, a manufacturer could label packaging as "recyclable" based on the material alone. A clear PET bottle? Recyclable. But what if it had a full-sleeve shrink label that confused infrared sorters at materials recovery facilities? Or a carbon-black tray that optical scanners could not detect? In practice, these items were often sent to landfill or incineration despite their "recyclable" labels.
RAM fixes this by assessing the entire journey of a piece of packaging through the UK's real-world waste infrastructure. It asks five sequential questions, and only packaging that passes all five stages earns a Green rating. This is not a theoretical exercise — it is grounded in what UK collection systems, sorting facilities, and reprocessors can actually handle today.
Why RAM matters for your business
Since October 2025, all large obligated producers under the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme must submit RAM ratings alongside their packaging data reports to DEFRA. Your RAM rating directly determines the fee modulation multiplier applied to your EPR costs — meaning Red-rated packaging will cost you significantly more than Green-rated packaging. Understanding RAM is no longer optional; it is a financial imperative.
RAM is a living methodology. As UK recycling infrastructure evolves — new sorting technologies are deployed, new collection schemes are rolled out, new end markets emerge — the RAM criteria are updated to reflect current capabilities. What is rated Amber today may become Green tomorrow as infrastructure catches up, or Red if an end market collapses. OPRL publishes updated RAM tables periodically, and producers must use the most current version when submitting their data.
Who created RAM and who maintains it?
RAM was developed through a partnership between OPRL and WRAP, with input from DEFRA, the Environment Agency, local authorities, waste management companies, and reprocessors. OPRL maintains the RAM Tool — a lookup database that provides ratings for thousands of specific packaging formats. WRAP provides the underlying evidence base, conducting regular surveys of UK collection coverage, sorting capabilities, and reprocessing capacity.
The methodology is endorsed by DEFRA as the official means of determining the recyclability rating required for EPR data submissions. While producers may conduct their own assessments using the RAM framework, the easiest route is to use the OPRL RAM Tool directly, which provides pre-calculated ratings for common packaging formats.
The 5 Stages of a RAM Assessment
RAM evaluates packaging through five sequential stages. Each stage acts as a gate: packaging must pass the current stage to proceed to the next. If it fails at any stage, the assessment stops and the packaging receives a rating based on where it failed. Think of it as a pipeline — your packaging must make it through every stage to achieve a Green rating.
Classification
The first stage identifies the primary material and packaging format. Is it a PET bottle, a cardboard box, a steel can, a glass jar? This determines which recycling stream the packaging belongs to. Multi-material packaging is classified by its predominant material by weight. Components that can be easily separated by the consumer (such as a plastic lid on a glass jar) are assessed independently.
Collection
Can UK households actually put this packaging in their recycling? This stage assesses whether the material and format are accepted by kerbside collection schemes across a sufficient proportion of UK local authorities. If fewer than 65% of local authorities collect a material type, it cannot achieve a Green rating. Coverage between 30% and 65% typically results in Amber. Below 30%, it is Red.
Sortation
Once collected, can UK materials recovery facilities (MRFs) identify and separate this packaging? This stage examines whether standard sorting technologies — near-infrared (NIR) sensors, eddy current separators, ballistic separators, and manual picking lines — can correctly sort the packaging into the right output stream.
Reprocessing
Can UK reprocessors actually recycle this material at scale? This stage verifies that sufficient reprocessing capacity exists within the UK (or through established export routes) to handle the material. It also checks that the specific packaging format does not introduce contaminants or processing difficulties.
End-Market Application
Is there genuine demand for the recycled output? The final stage confirms that stable end markets exist for the secondary material produced by reprocessing. Recyclability means nothing if the output has nowhere to go. This stage assesses whether the recycled material can be sold at commercially viable prices.
The "weakest link" principle
A packaging item's RAM rating is determined by its weakest stage. Even if your packaging scores perfectly on four out of five stages, a failure at any single stage will cap the overall rating. For example, a novel bio-plastic bottle might be perfectly classifiable, widely collected, and easily sorted — but if no UK reprocessor can handle it at scale, it will not achieve Green.
Not sure where your packaging stands?
Repackd automatically assigns RAM ratings to your packaging portfolio based on the latest OPRL data, so you always know exactly where you stand.
Check Your Ratings →RAM Ratings Explained: Red, Amber, and Green
The output of a RAM assessment is a simple traffic-light rating: Red, Amber, or Green. But behind each colour is a precise definition rooted in the five-stage assessment described above. Understanding what each rating truly means — and what it implies for your EPR costs — is essential for making informed packaging decisions.
Green: Recyclable in practice
A Green rating means the packaging has passed all five RAM stages. It is made from a material that is widely collected (by 65% or more of UK local authorities), can be correctly sorted by standard MRF equipment, has sufficient UK reprocessing capacity, and has established end markets for the recycled output. Green-rated packaging represents the gold standard and attracts the lowest EPR fees.
Common examples of Green-rated packaging include: clear PET bottles without full-body sleeves, aluminium drinks cans, steel food cans, standard corrugated cardboard boxes, clear and coloured glass bottles, and HDPE milk bottles.
Amber: Partially recyclable or limited infrastructure
An Amber rating indicates that the packaging is recyclable in principle but faces practical limitations at one or more stages. This might mean that kerbside collection is available in some areas but not sufficiently widespread, or that sortation is possible but unreliable, or that reprocessing capacity exists but is limited.
Typical Amber-rated items include: plastic pots, tubs, and trays (collection coverage is growing but inconsistent), flexible plastic films (some councils now collect these, but not enough for Green), coloured PET bottles, and Tetra Pak-style cartons.
Red: Not recyclable through current infrastructure
A Red rating means the packaging cannot be effectively recycled through the UK's current waste infrastructure. This could be because the material is not collected by any kerbside schemes, cannot be identified by sorting equipment, has no viable reprocessing route, or lacks end-market demand.
Examples of Red-rated packaging include: carbon-black plastic trays (invisible to NIR sorters), multi-layer flexible pouches, compostable plastics labelled as "biodegradable" (contaminate conventional plastic recycling streams), and expanded polystyrene food containers.
Common Materials and Their RAM Ratings
The table below provides a reference guide to typical RAM ratings for common packaging materials and formats. Note that ratings can vary based on specific design choices and are updated periodically by OPRL as UK infrastructure evolves.
| Material | Format | Typical Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PET | Clear bottle | Widely collected, sorted, and reprocessed. Avoid full-sleeve labels. | |
| PET | Coloured bottle | Sortable but can contaminate clear PET streams. Light colours preferred. | |
| PET | Thermoformed tray | Collection growing. Different crystallinity to bottles causes reprocessing challenges. | |
| HDPE | Natural bottle (milk) | Excellent recyclability. One of the most well-established UK recycling streams. | |
| HDPE | Coloured bottle | Good infrastructure. Mixed HDPE is reprocessed into pipes, furniture, etc. | |
| PP | Pot / tub | Collection coverage increasing. Sorting and reprocessing capacity developing. | |
| PP | Flexible film | Not widely collected at kerbside. Limited sorting capability for flexibles. | |
| LDPE | Carrier bag / stretch wrap | Front-of-store take-back expanding. Not yet widely collected at kerbside. | |
| PS | Expanded polystyrene (EPS) | Very limited collection. No significant UK reprocessing capacity. | |
| Aluminium | Drinks can | Excellent. Infinitely recyclable. Strong end markets and high material value. | |
| Aluminium | Foil tray | Widely collected. Eddy current separators capture aluminium effectively. | |
| Steel | Food can | Near-universal collection. Magnetic separation is highly effective. | |
| Glass | Bottle / jar | Infinitely recyclable. Near-universal collection via kerbside or bottle banks. | |
| Paper/Card | Corrugated box | Universal collection. Massive UK reprocessing capacity and strong end markets. | |
| Fibre | Beverage carton (Tetra Pak) | Multi-material (card/plastic/foil). Collection expanding but reprocessing limited. | |
| Plastic | Carbon-black tray | Invisible to NIR sorting. Switch to detectable dark colours for Amber/Green. | |
| Plastic | Multi-layer pouch | Cannot be separated into component layers. No viable recycling route. | |
| Compostable | PLA / bio-plastic | Contaminates conventional recycling streams. Limited composting infrastructure. |
Ratings change over time
This table reflects typical ratings as of early 2026. As the UK rolls out consistent collection reforms and as sorting and reprocessing capacity develops, ratings for many Amber items are expected to shift to Green. Always use the latest OPRL data when submitting to DEFRA.
How RAM Ratings Affect Your EPR Fees
This is the section that makes finance directors pay attention. Under the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, your RAM rating directly determines the fee modulation multiplier applied to your packaging fees. Green packaging pays less. Red packaging pays more. And the gap widens every year.
DEFRA has published a phased timeline for fee modulation, with multipliers increasing gradually between 2025 and 2029. The intent is clear: create a financial incentive powerful enough to drive genuine design-for-recyclability across the entire UK packaging supply chain.
Red-rated packaging fee timeline
Meanwhile, Green-rated packaging will receive progressively lower fees, potentially as low as 0.5x the base rate by 2028-29. The difference between Red and Green could represent a 4x cost differential — for the same tonnage of packaging.
Real-world cost impact
A mid-market producer handling 500 tonnes of packaging annually could face an additional £200,000+ in EPR fees by 2028-29 if their portfolio is predominantly Red-rated. Conversely, shifting that same portfolio to Green could reduce fees by a similar amount. The financial case for improving recyclability has never been stronger.
How modulation works in practice
Fee modulation is applied per material, per format, per packaging component. This means a single product can have components with different RAM ratings — and each is modulated independently. A cardboard box (Green, 1.0x) with a plastic window (Red, up to 2.0x) would be assessed as two separate components with different fee rates.
This component-level granularity is why producers need to understand RAM at a detailed level. It is not enough to know your product's overall recyclability — you need to know the rating for every individual component: the tray, the sleeve, the lid, the label, the adhesive, the ink. Each one contributes to your total EPR bill.
Know exactly what you're paying
Repackd's fee calculator shows your precise EPR bill broken down by component, rating, and material — with projections through 2029.
Calculate Your Fees →The M Modifier: What It Means and How It Works
In addition to the core Red/Amber/Green rating, RAM includes an M modifier that provides additional granularity. The M modifier indicates whether a packaging item's rating is influenced by a specific "marginal" factor — typically related to design features that could push the rating up or down with relatively minor changes.
The M modifier is important for strategic planning. An RM rating tells you that a relatively small investment in packaging redesign could shift you from Red to Amber — potentially saving significant fees. An AM rating signals that your packaging is almost Green, and that infrastructure developments expected in the next 12-24 months may get you there without any action on your part.
Conversely, a GM rating is a warning flag. Your packaging is Green today, but it sits on a boundary that could shift. Monitoring these items is important so you are not caught off-guard by a rating downgrade that suddenly increases your fees.
How to Conduct a RAM Assessment
There are two routes to getting RAM ratings for your packaging: using the OPRL RAM Tool (a lookup database) or conducting an independent assessment using the RAM framework. For most producers, the OPRL route is faster and more authoritative. Here is the step-by-step process either way.
Inventory your packaging
Create a complete list of every packaging component across all your product lines. Include primary packaging (the container), secondary packaging (outer boxes, shrink wrap), and transit packaging (pallets, stretch film). Each component needs to be assessed independently.
Classify each component
For every component, identify the primary material (PET, HDPE, PP, aluminium, glass, paper, etc.), the format (bottle, tray, can, box, pouch, film), and any additional features (colours, labels, closures, coatings, adhesives). These details matter for accurate assessment.
Look up or assess each component
Use the OPRL RAM Tool to find pre-calculated ratings for common packaging formats. For novel or unusual packaging, work through each of the five stages manually using the RAM framework documentation, or use a platform like Repackd that automates the assessment.
Record results and identify improvement opportunities
Document the RAM rating for every component. Flag any Red or Amber items that could be improved through design changes. Prioritise by tonnage and fee impact — the highest-volume Red-rated items should be addressed first for maximum ROI.
Submit alongside your EPR data
Include RAM ratings in your DEFRA packaging data submission. The RPD (Regulated Packaging Data) system requires a RAM rating for each packaging component reported. Ensure you are using the most current version of the RAM tables.
Tip: Start with high-volume Red items
If you have hundreds of SKUs, do not try to optimise everything at once. Rank your components by tonnage multiplied by fee multiplier. The top 10-20 items by this metric are where you will find 80%+ of your potential savings. Focus there first.
How Repackd Automates Your RAM Assessments
RAM assessment does not need to be a manual exercise. Repackd's ANALYSE module automates the entire process, from material classification through to rating assignment. Here is how it works and what sets it apart from doing it manually or through consultants.
Instant automated scoring
Upload your packaging data — via spreadsheet, supplier portal, or document extraction — and Repackd automatically assigns RAM ratings to every component in seconds. No manual lookups, no waiting for consultants.
Portfolio-level visibility
See your entire packaging portfolio colour-coded by RAM rating. Dashboards show the split between Red, Amber, and Green at a glance, with drill-down to individual components. Track improvement over time.
Fee impact analysis
Every RAM rating is linked to precise fee calculations. See exactly how much each Red-rated component is costing you in EPR fees, with projections through 2029 as modulation multipliers increase.
AI-powered improvement suggestions
Repackd does not just tell you what is Red — it tells you how to fix it. Our engine suggests specific material swaps, design changes, and label modifications that could shift ratings from Red to Amber or Green, ranked by ROI.
One-click DEFRA submission
RAM ratings flow directly into your DEFRA RPD export. No re-keying, no copy-paste errors. Generate a compliant CSV with all 15 columns populated, validated, and ready to submit. One click, done.
From hours to seconds
Manual RAM assessment for a 500-SKU portfolio typically takes 40-60 hours of consultant time. Repackd does it in under 60 seconds, with continuous updates as OPRL publishes new RAM tables. The average Repackd customer saves 340+ hours per year on compliance tasks.