Factory packaging data for UK recyclability checks
Obtain a component schedule, material weights, layer construction, dimensions, finishes and evidence tied to the supplied packaging. Ask how parts separate by hand and request material-specific details, not just a recyclable claim. Missing evidence can mean an automatic red rating. Use this checklist when briefing Cambridge China Bridge.
Define the assessment before requesting factory data
For the 2026 reporting year, the official guidance says to use RAM version 1.1. Record the reporting year and applicable methodology on your assessment brief. Recheck the guidance before assessing packaging for a later reporting year.
Use our packaging EPR guide for the wider obligations and packaging sourcing guide for purchasing specifications. This checklist adds the construction and technical evidence needed to assess recyclability, beyond a packaging weight sheet.
Get a component map and a physical sample
Request an annotated drawing and photographs showing the body, lid, sleeve, label, seal, liner, insert and any attached decoration. Ask for each component’s weight, dimensions, constituent materials and their weights, plus the joining method. For laminated packaging, request the layer sequence, thicknesses and coating weights rather than a description such as ‘paper pouch’.
The methodology says components easily separated by hand are assessed separately. Demonstrate separation on the supplied sample and record what remains attached, including adhesive labels. Flag small parts and anything requiring tools for the assessor rather than assuming every entry in the factory’s component list gets a separate assessment.
Ask questions specific to the material
Under version 1.1, fibre-based composite packaging with plastic content above 5% by mass is assessed as fibre-based composite material. Ask for a mass breakdown so the assessor can establish the correct category. The checklist below requests technical inputs; it does not award a rating.
Ask the packaging manufacturer or its material supplier to answer unknown fields. A product assembly factory may only know the packaging trade name. Request supporting specifications for the actual material used, including labels, adhesives and coatings.
| Material or format | Details to request |
|---|---|
| Paper, board and fibre composites | Fibre source; paper and non-paper mass breakdown; plastic layers on either face; wax, silicone and barrier coatings; wet-strength agents; foil or metallisation; repulping test reports. |
| Flexible plastics | Polymer in every layer and its mass share; foil versus deposited metallisation; paper layers or labels; adhesive type and quantity; barrier materials; carbon black in the masterbatch. |
| Rigid plastics | Polymer and packaging format; colour and opacity; masterbatch pigments; fillers and density; barrier layers; seals, sleeves and inserts; dimensions. |
| Steel and aluminium | Metal type and non-metal mass breakdown; dimensions; coatings and attachments; whether the finish is foil or deposited metallisation. |
| Glass | Glass type and colour; heat-resistant treatment; non-glass attachments; closures and liners. |
| Wood and other materials | Exact material identity; treatments, coatings and attached materials; construction and dimensions; supporting reports for any claimed recycling route. |
Match evidence to the packaging you will receive
Request declarations covering intentionally added substances, ink formulation, pigments and coatings, plus any integrated electrical parts or batteries. Ask the factory to identify the manufacturer and grade of each relevant input. A statement that a box is ‘eco-friendly’ leaves these questions unanswered.
Keep specifications, declarations and test reports against the packaging drawing revision and approved sample. Check whether a report covers the finished component or only its base material. Keep recycled-content evidence in a separate field: our Plastic Packaging Tax guide explains that separate question.
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Treat missing information as an unresolved assessment
PackUK’s supplementary guidance says a household packaging unit or component is an automatic red if you cannot provide evidence for it. Do not fill gaps with assumptions drawn from appearance, a recycling symbol or another supplier’s report.
Return a written gap list to the factory, identifying the missing specification or supporting document for each component. Before approving production, compare the completed schedule with the sample and agree notification of material, adhesive or coating substitutions. Pass the evidence pack to the person completing your assessment and record any unresolved gaps.
Frequently asked questions
Is a factory’s recyclable declaration enough?
Ask for the component construction, material specifications and supporting documents behind it. A general declaration does not tell your assessor what layers, adhesives or coatings the supplied packaging contains.
Do I need weights for labels and glue?
Request label weights and adhesive quantities or coating weights, alongside their material identities. Keep them visible in the schedule even where they remain attached to another component.
Does recycled content prove recyclability?
Keep the evidence separate. Request recycled-content documentation alongside construction and material data; do not use a recycled-content claim as a substitute for the recyclability assessment.
What if the Chinese factory cannot supply the details?
Ask it to obtain specifications from its packaging or material supplier. Record the gaps. PackUK says household packaging without supporting evidence receives an automatic red rating.