PackUK has published RAM 2027, the updated Recyclability Assessment Methodology that producers will use to assess household packaging placed on the UK market in 2027 under packaging Extended Producer Responsibility.
For small producers, importers, food businesses, online sellers and brand owners, this is a practical compliance story rather than a distant policy update. The RAM rating given to packaging can affect whether it is assessed as red, amber or green, which in turn feeds into fee modulation under the pEPR scheme.
PackUK says RAM 2027 follows industry consultation and is intended to make assessments clearer, more consistent and easier to apply. It includes refinements to material rules, definitions, guidance, structure and usability, with a stronger link between ratings and real-world recycling outcomes.
The important timing point is that RAM 2027 applies to packaging supplied in 2027. It does not replace the current reporting approach for 2025 or 2026. Businesses should continue to use RAM version 1.1 for current reporting periods, while familiarising themselves with RAM 2027 ahead of the next reporting year.
Why this matters for SMEs
Many smaller firms do not think of themselves as packaging producers, but the rules can still matter if they place packaged goods on the market, import packaged products, use own-label packaging, or sell through e-commerce channels. Even where a business relies on suppliers, it may still need reliable packaging data to understand reporting duties and costs.
The red, amber and green assessment framework is designed to push packaging towards better recyclability. That means packaging choices are becoming more closely connected to future compliance costs, supplier conversations and product design decisions.
For a small business, the immediate risk is not just missing a deadline. It is leaving packaging decisions too late, then discovering that a material, label, coating, colour, format or component makes an assessment harder than expected. Changes to packaging can involve suppliers, artwork, stock run-downs, customer expectations and minimum order quantities, so early checks are usually cheaper than rushed fixes.
What to check now
The first step is version control. PackUK says RAM 1.1 covers the reporting period from 1 January to 31 December 2026, with submission deadlines of 1 October 2026 for the first half and 1 April 2027 for the second half. RAM 2027 covers the reporting period from 1 January to 31 December 2027, with submission deadlines of 1 October 2027 for the first half and 1 April 2028 for the second half.
Businesses should make sure the team or adviser handling packaging data knows which RAM version applies to which period. That sounds basic, but it is exactly the kind of admin detail that can create errors when guidance changes annually.
Second, gather the evidence behind packaging assessments. That may include material composition, labels, adhesives, closures, inks, sleeves, multi-material formats and any supplier statements used to support recyclability claims. If the information is incomplete, now is a good time to ask suppliers for clearer specifications.
Third, identify packaging lines that could be exposed to higher fees or operational change. Businesses with multiple product ranges may want to start with high-volume packaging, imported lines, seasonal products and packaging that has already caused questions under RAM 1.1.
Design choices are becoming cost choices
PackUK says the updated methodology is intended to support better packaging design and a more circular packaging system. For SMEs, that turns recyclability into a commercial decision as well as an environmental one.
A packaging refresh might be prompted by brand design, shelf presence or customer convenience, but it should now also be checked against reporting and fee implications. Firms already reviewing labels, suppliers or product formats may find it sensible to include RAM 2027 checks in the same project rather than treating compliance as a separate exercise later.
There is also a customer communication angle. Businesses should avoid making loose recyclability claims unless they are supported by the methodology and by supplier evidence. Clearer internal records make it easier to brief staff, answer customer questions and avoid confusion between what is technically recyclable and what is likely to be recycled in practice.
The takeaway
RAM 2027 is not an overnight rule change, but it is an early warning to get packaging data into better shape. Small businesses that sell packaged goods should check whether pEPR applies to them, confirm which RAM version is being used for each reporting period, and start reviewing packaging lines before 2027 supply decisions are locked in.
Source: PackUK
