The 2026 work that changes your dataset
Large producers report packaging data twice a year. The next large-producer deadline is 1 October 2026. Small producers register and report annually by 1 April. Check the current GOV.UK deadline page because your reporting route depends on producer size and the period covered.
RAM now affects fees
Producers use red, amber and green ratings for in-scope household packaging. Year 2 fee modulation applies a 20% uplift to red packaging against the amber rate.
Plastic needs a subtype
The current reporting file separates flexible and rigid plastic, including where a producer does not submit RAM data.
Create one record for each component
Store the material and weight of the bottle, cap, label, sleeve and shipment packaging separately. Add the packaging activity, household status, nation data and plastic subtype required by your reporting case. Keep the supplier specification or measurement record behind each value.
| Field | Record | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Component | One row per separable packaging part | Bill of materials or pack specification |
| Material and mass | Accepted category, subtype and grams | Supplier sheet or measured sample |
| Market activity | Supply, import, own-brand or marketplace role | Contract and transaction record |
| RAM result | Rating plus assessment route | Decision answers and supporting test |
Control estimates and changes
Record who approved an estimate, the sample used and the products it covers. Keep effective dates when a supplier changes a component. A current weight must not overwrite the value used in a submitted period.
Reconcile reported mass against units sold or imported. Investigate changes by material and activity, then keep the explanation with the approved report.
Test the RPD file
- Download the current file specification and accepted codes.
- Generate a draft with the correct period code.
- Check totals against product and transaction data.
- Resolve rejected rows and review warnings.
- Archive the submitted file, confirmation and approval record.
A practical 30-day plan
| Week | Owner | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Compliance | Scope, producer tier and reporting calendar |
| 2 | Packaging and procurement | Missing component data and supplier requests |
| 3 | Data team | Transaction join, RAM records and draft file |
| 4 | Finance and approver | Reconciliation, sign-off and controlled submission |
Investigate material and fee movements
Compare the draft with the previous period by material, activity and household status. Separate sales growth from data corrections. A new supplier weight, corrected SKU mapping or changed classification can move tonnage without any change in units sold.
| Variance | Check first | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Mass rises faster than sales | Duplicate joins or heavier pack | SKU-level bridge |
| Household tonnage moves | Classification or channel mapping | Decision record |
| Red RAM share increases | New products or reassessments | RAM change log |
| Material disappears | Missing supplier or unmatched SKU | Completeness report |
Prepare finance and compliance handoffs
Compliance should approve classifications and RAM results. Finance should review the tonnage bridge and fee assumptions. The authorised submitter should receive a locked file, reconciliation and unresolved-issue statement.
After submission, update forecasts with approved mass rather than copying figures from an uncontrolled working spreadsheet.
Prepare accurate EPR reports without rebuilding spreadsheets
Remedy EPR automates data imports and calculations, detects compliance errors and keeps evidence ready for review.
Check current requirements in the GOV.UK EPR collection, the RPD file specification and the deadline guidance.