EPR Readiness Assessment: How Prepared Is Your Business?

Table of Contents

• What Is an EPR Readiness Assessment?
• Section 1: Obligation Status
• Section 2: Registration
• Section 3: Data Collection
• Section 4: Reporting Capability
• Section 5: Team and Training
• Section 6: Packaging Optimisation
• Scoring Your Assessment
• Key Takeaways

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Key Takeaways

• An EPR readiness assessment identifies gaps in your compliance before they become problems during audits or submissions.
• Six areas must be covered: obligation status, registration, data collection, reporting capability, team readiness, and packaging optimisation.
• Most businesses score well on registration but poorly on data collection — this is where compliance typically falls down.
• Conducting this assessment annually ensures you stay ahead of regulatory changes and business growth.
• A low score is not a failure — it is a roadmap showing you exactly where to invest effort.

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What Is an EPR Readiness Assessment?

An EPR readiness assessment is a structured review of your preparedness for packaging EPR compliance. It identifies gaps between where you are and where you need to be, providing a clear action plan for improvement.

This assessment is valuable whether you are:

• New to EPR and preparing for first registration
• Already compliant and checking for weaknesses
• Growing and potentially changing from small to large producer
• Preparing for an audit and want to identify issues first

For EPR fundamentals, see what packaging EPR is.

Section 1: Obligation Status

Questions

• Have you calculated your annual turnover (including group companies)?
• Have you estimated your annual packaging tonnage?
• Have you confirmed whether you are a small or large producer?
• Have you identified all your packaging activities (manufacturer, importer, seller, distributor)?
• Have you checked if you have obligations in addition to packaging EPR (WEEE, batteries)?

Scoring

Status	Score
All questions answered with documented evidence	5/5
Most questions answered but some estimates	3/5
Unsure about obligation status	1/5

Resources

• Who needs to register for packaging EPR
• How to estimate packaging tonnage
• Small vs large producer obligations
• How to classify packaging activities

Section 2: Registration

Questions

• Are you registered with a compliance scheme or directly with the Environment Agency?
• Is your registration current and renewal date known?
• Are your registration details accurate (turnover, tonnage, activities)?
• Do you know your registration number?
• Have you reviewed your compliance scheme contract (notice period, services, costs)?

Scoring

Status	Score
Registered with current, accurate details	5/5
Registered but details may be outdated	3/5
Not yet registered	0/5

Resources

• How to register as a small producer
• EPR compliance scheme vs direct registration

Section 3: Data Collection

Questions

• Do you have a packaging register listing all packaging components?
• Has each component been physically weighed (not just estimated)?
• Is each component classified by the correct DEFRA material type?
• Is packaging categorised as primary, secondary, or transit?
• Do you track packaging for imported products?
• Do you track service packaging (bags, cups, containers)?
• Is your packaging register updated when packaging changes?
• Do you have a system for collecting sales/dispatch volumes?
• Can you calculate nation data (large producers)?
• Is your data collection documented with methodology notes?

Scoring

Status	Score
All items in place with documented evidence	10/10
Most items in place, some gaps	6/10
Basic data collection only	3/10
No systematic data collection	0/10

Resources

• How to audit packaging weights
• How to set up packaging data collection
• How to track imported packaging
• How to calculate nation data

Section 4: Reporting Capability

Questions

• Can you generate a submission-ready CSV file for the RPD portal?
• Do you know the submission deadlines for your producer size?
• Have you submitted data before (or conducted a dry run)?
• Do you keep copies of all submitted data?
• Do you have a process for reviewing EPR invoices?

Scoring

Status	Score
All items in place, data submission proven	5/5
Most items in place, not yet tested	3/5
No reporting capability established	0/5

Resources

• How to submit RPD data step by step
• DEFRA RPD CSV format guide
• EPR compliance deadlines
• How to read your EPR invoice

Section 5: Team and Training

Questions

• Is there a named person responsible for EPR compliance?
• Has the compliance lead received EPR training?
• Do relevant team members (procurement, warehouse, product development) understand their EPR roles?
• Is there a process for notifying the compliance lead about packaging changes?
• Is EPR included in your new product development process?

Scoring

Status	Score
Dedicated owner, trained team, established processes	5/5
Owner assigned but limited team awareness	3/5
No clear ownership or training	0/5

Resources

• How to train staff on EPR
• EPR annual compliance calendar

Section 6: Packaging Optimisation

Questions

• Have you identified your highest-cost packaging materials under EPR?
• Have you evaluated alternatives for non-recyclable packaging?
• Have you assessed packaging for mandatory labelling readiness (2027)?
• Do you have a packaging improvement roadmap?
• Do you track the EPR cost impact of packaging changes?

Scoring

Status	Score
Active optimisation programme with tracked savings	5/5
Some awareness of cost reduction opportunities	3/5
No optimisation activity	0/5

Resources

• How to reduce EPR costs
• Packaging design for recyclability
• EPR mandatory labelling 2027
• EPR fee changes 2027

Scoring Your Assessment

Total Your Score

Section	Maximum Score	Your Score
1. Obligation Status	5	___
2. Registration	5	___
3. Data Collection	10	___
4. Reporting Capability	5	___
5. Team and Training	5	___
6. Packaging Optimisation	5	___
Total	35	___

Interpreting Your Score

Score Range	Rating	Action Needed
30-35	Excellent	Maintain current practices; focus on optimisation
20-29	Good	Address specific gaps identified
10-19	Needs improvement	Prioritise data collection and reporting
0-9	Urgent action required	Start with registration and basic data collection

Prioritisation

If your score is below 20, prioritise in this order:

1. Registration (legal requirement)
2. Data collection (foundation for everything else)
3. Reporting (meet submission deadlines)
4. Team training (sustain compliance)
5. Optimisation (reduce costs)

Getting Started

1. Complete this assessment honestly and document your scores
2. Identify your weakest areas and create an action plan
3. Set deadlines for addressing each gap
4. Review quarterly to track progress
5. Re-assess annually as regulations and your business evolve

Use the EPR fee calculator to understand your cost exposure, and visit our pricing page for compliance tools that help you improve your readiness score.