Almost 62 per cent of flexible plastics assessed under the UK’s Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) received the lowest rating in 2025, according to analysis of new Environment Agency data by Reconomy, a recycling and resource management firm.
The data shows that 61.8 per cent of flexible plastics assessed under RAM, representing almost 245,000 tonnes of packaging, received a red rating.
RAM forms part of the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) system, under which large producers contribute towards the cost of collecting and recycling packaging waste.
Packaging recyclability
From the 2026/27 assessment year, pEPR fees will also be adjusted according to packaging recyclability. Red-rated packaging will carry a charge 20 per cent higher per tonne than amber-rated packaging, while green-rated packaging will receive a discount.
PackUK expects to confirm the rates and issue Notices of Liability by the end of November 2026.
The analysis is based on the Environment Agency’s pEPR 2023, 2024 and 2025 Reported Packaging Data, published on 15 September 2026. The data shows that total packaging tonnage reported by large UK producers across all materials fell by 1.2 per cent in 2025, from 11.11 million tonnes in 2024 to 10.97m/t.
Largest reduction by weight
Plastics accounted for the largest reduction by weight, falling by approximately 52,300t. Glass declined by around 51,600t, while steel packaging fell by 25,500t and fibre composite by 12,200t.
Aluminium increased by approximately 8,700t, while reported paper and card tonnage remained broadly unchanged.
The reduction in reported packaging tonnage follows the introduction of the first pEPR assessment year on 1 April 2025, with the first invoices issued in October 2025. Reconomy said the figures could indicate that some producers had begun making changes to their packaging ahead of the new system.
‘Higher per-tonne charges’
Richard Hardstaff, sales development manager at Eurokey by Reconomy, said: “With nearly two-thirds of the flexible plastics assessed under RAM receiving a red rating, many producers could face higher per-tonne charges when modulated fees are applied.”
He added that businesses should assess their packaging portfolios to understand potential fee exposure and identify opportunities to reduce packaging weight and improve recyclability.
Separately, Reconomy reported in June that it managed almost 8.5m/t of customer material in 2025, up 30 per cent from 6.5m/t in 2024. Of the total, more than 6.8m/t was reused or recycled, according to the company’s 2025 sustainability report.
