Reference Guide: Template Columns by Material and Issue Type

Reference Guide: Template Columns by Material and Issue Type

When reviewing your packaging components in RAM Assess, each material type has specific data columns in the template that relate to different recycling stages and issue types.
This guide lists which columns to check so you can quickly identify where problems might be and understand what influences your RAG score.

⚠ Note: Some RAG scores are based on a combination of responses rather than one column alone. The lists below show which stage and issue type each column relates to – not the full scoring logic.

Aluminium

Application

  • CS – % non-aluminium content by weight?

Collection

  • K – Packaging component name

  • S – OPRL Labelling

Fibre-Based Composite - Liquid Food/Drink & Other Liquids

Classification

  • AT – Does the packaged product contain…?

Collection

  • S – OPRL Labelling

Reprocessing

  • AV – Contains any of the following materials? If so, which?

  • AW – % of that material by weight of polymer content?

Application

  • AX – Contains any of the following coatings? If so, which?

  • AY – Fillers, additives, or agents intentionally added? (FBC)

Fibre-Based Composites - Other Non-Liquids

Collection

  • S – OPRL Labelling

Sortation

  • AU – Smaller than 40×40 mm and can be attached to a larger component? (FBC)

Reprocessing

  • BA – Additional fillers, additives, or agents intentionally added? If so, which?

  • BB – Glass or carbon fibres intentionally added? If so, which?

  • BC – Two-sided lamination?

  • BD – Two-sided wax coating?

  • BE – Siliconising agents?

Application

  • BG – % non-paper content by weight (not classified as a fibre-based composite)

  • BH – Contains non-wood fibres? If so, which?

  • BI – Contains internally adhered laminations? If so, which?

  • BJ – Contains dispersion coatings? If so, which?

  • BK – Aluminium foil laminations ≥ 6 microns thick?

  • BL – Barrier metallisation present? If so, which?

Glass

Application

  • CL – Does the glass packaging component contain…?

Collection

  • S – OPRL Labelling

Paper or Card

Collection

  • S – OPRL Labelling

Reprocessing

  • AI – % non-paper content by weight (not classified as a fibre-based composite)

  • AJ – Fillers, additives, or agents intentionally added? If so, which?

  • AK – Glass or carbon fibres intentionally added? If so, which?

  • AL – Two-sided wax coatings?

  • AM – Siliconising agents?

Application

  • AN – Contains non-wood fibres? If so, which?

  • AO – Contains internally adhered laminations? If so, which?

  • AP – Contains dispersion coatings? If so, which?

  • AQ – Aluminium foil laminations ≥ 6 microns thick?

  • AR – Barrier metallisation present? If so, which?

Plastic - Flexibles

Collection

  • S – OPRL Labelling

Sortation

  • BN – Masterbatch contains carbon-based pigment? (PL-F)

  • BO – Contains aluminium foil layers?

  • BP – Polyolefin-based plastic film/bag with ≥ 80% PE or PP?

Reprocessing

  • BQ – Contains any of these materials?

  • BR – Contains any of these additives?

  • BS – Uses lacquers/inks with PVC binders?

  • BT – Density > 1g/cm³?

Plastic - Rigids

Sortation

  • BY – Masterbatch contains carbon-based pigment? (PL-R)

  • BZ – Smaller than 40×40 mm and can be attached to a larger component?

Reprocessing

  • CA – Contains any contaminating items?

  • CI – PP items only – Contains any of the following attributes?

  • CG – HDPE items only – Contains any of the following attributes?

  • CE – PET trays only – Contains any of the following attributes?

  • CC – PET bottles only – Contains any of the following attributes?

  • J – Specific material

Application

  • CJ – PP items only – Additional attributes

  • CH – HDPE items only – Additional attributes

  • CF – PET trays only – Additional attributes

Collection

  • K – Packaging component name

  • S – OPRL Labelling


Steel

Application

  • CP – % non-steel content by weight?

Collection

  • K – Packaging component name

  • S – OPRL Labelling

Wood

Collection

  • S – OPRL Labelling

Other

Other

Collection

  • S – OPRL Labelling

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