Ramping up RAM in the UK
Credit: chocoloki, stock.adobe.com
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s roadmap provides a strategic overview of RAM development, and the intended material reviews over the next five years. PackUK has worked closely with the RAM technical advisory committee (TAC) and guest TAC members on the roadmap’s development, responding directly to industry feedback and demonstrating a continued commitment to a collaborative and transparent approach to RAM development. It will run in conjunction with Packaging Extended Producer Recyclability (pEPR) obligations, with scheduled reviews, technical updates and alignment with the wider UK and international regulations, industry players say.
The roadmap contains all information needed for industry, including regular events such as quarterly TAC meetings, annual four nations policy alignment reviews, annual publications of the RAM, and relevant pEPR policy deadlines. The roadmap additionally includes one-off deep dives into different material types to assess how RAM can better support those packaging materials and consider industry innovation in future updates, according to Defra.
These deep dives are in addition to the annual update cycle, ensuring the RAM continues to evolve to reflect industry trends, whilst also ensuring fuller-scale reviews of each material category. All timings in the roadmap are subject to change.
The RAM will undergo continuous improvement over the coming years, addressing stakeholder queries, developments, and issues as they are received, integrating as many reasonable changes as possible into annual RAM updates.
The UK’s largest compliance scheme, Valpak by Reconomy, has responded to the recent publication of PackUK’s Roadmap, highlighting the benefit for planning ahead.
Ruth Beckley, CEO at Valpak, said, “Any insight that gives obligated businesses visibility into future RAM requirements or helps with data management is extremely valuable. The roadmap also provides reassurance that those areas causing confusion will be resolved.
“For example, the review of take-back guidance later this year is a timely inclusion that reflects the concerns of Valpak members around access to take-back systems and evidencing recycling. Language clarity also has a major impact on our members’ work. As packaging changes to meet the RAM specifications, clarity around details such as acceptable shades of coloured plastics for recycling will have significant cost implications.
“As Valpak supports its members in the transition to shift material from red to green under RAM, the roadmap is an effective resource.”
BOX THIS:
Highlights for 2026 include:
- Drafting of RAM 2027 begins
- Assessment of clarity in definitions, possible reintroduction of RAM v1.0 removals, flexible plastics (ahead of Simpler Recycling rollout) and fibre-based composites guidance, and alignment with separation of waste regulations and international protocols.
- The appointment of the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO).
Further details may be found here:
