Managing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) directly might seem like the most straightforward option. But what if your business could spend less on packaging compliance and benefit from specialist support against potential risks?
There’s no need to manage the uncertainty and pressure of rapidly evolving packaging obligations alone. Joining Clarity gives your business the confidence and specialist support that comes from decades of packaging compliance expertise.
Here are six reasons to make the switch.
1. Expert support at a lower cost
Did you know that registering directly with the Environment Agency actually costs large producers more than registering through a compliance scheme?
The difference more than covers Clarity’s annual scheme fee, and for this lower net cost, your business gains a dedicated compliance manager, plus access to an entire team of packaging, data, PRN and regulatory specialists.
Instead of relying solely on internal teams to interpret EPR requirements and manage every aspect of compliance, our experienced team at Clarity will help you avoid risks and remain informed as regulations evolve.
Additionally, further cost savings can be achieved through strategic PRN purchasing – which we’ll cover in more detail below.
2. Confidence in your packaging data
Many producers tell us how much easier compliance feels when they have experts on hand to ensure they meet the requirements correctly. With one of the largest portfolios of members in the UK, we understand that the regulations can sometimes feel daunting, so it’s only natural for doubts – “Am I doing this right?” or “Are we interpreting this correctly?” – to creep in.
When you join Clarity, our compliance specialists examine your packaging data submission, the methodology used, and how you have applied the relevant reporting rules. This additional support can help identify potential gaps or inconsistencies, giving you confidence that your data is accurate and your submission has been prepared correctly.
As a Clarity member, we can also help you prepare for regulatory audits – and when needed, attend them alongside you – providing essential support if your methodology and reporting approach come under scrutiny.
3. Strategic PRN purchasing that works for you
Large producers must meet their packaging recycling obligations by obtaining Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) and Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERNs).
Purchasing this evidence directly may seem like the simplest choice, but fluctuations in PRN markets can make costs difficult to predict, and knowing when to buy can be challenging. Clarity has decades of experience supporting direct registrants as PRN trading clients, with an established network and specialist knowledge of the market built over nearly 30 years.
If you join our compliance scheme, you won’t lose the flexibility or control you value. Instead, you’ll benefit from our PRN expertise without needing to become an expert yourself, as our in-house trading team purchases strategically throughout the year. This helps members identify the right opportunities to buy, control costs, reduce exposure to market volatility and secure cost-effective recycling evidence.
4. Never miss an update as compliance requirements evolve
Packaging regulation continues to develop. Changes to EPR reporting, RAM and modulated waste disposal fees are creating new responsibilities for large producers.
Monitoring every development, understanding its relevance and deciding what action to take can place considerable pressure on internal teams, particularly when compliance is only one part of your role. Keeping up with evolving requirements can also mean less time to focus on wider commercial interests, and even innocent errors can have significant consequences.
Clarity keeps members informed of relevant regulatory developments through direct guidance, regular updates and expert-led webinars. When requirements change, we help you understand what they mean for your business and what action you need to take, ensuring you meet your responsibilities confidently and cost-effectively.
Rather than interpreting increasingly complex regulations in isolation, you can draw on the knowledge and experience of specialists who work with packaging compliance every day – while you stay focused on your core business priorities.
5. Complete RAM confidently, make cost-effective decisions
Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) has added a significant layer of complexity to EPR reporting, with updated guidance for 2027 placing further demands on large producers.
Businesses must assess the recyclability of relevant household packaging components, assign accurate ratings and retain sufficient evidence to substantiate their assessments.
Getting this right can help you:
- avoid unnecessary costs
- reduce the risk of errors, and
- make informed packaging decisions.
So, it’s essential to manage these requirements with a structured, consistent and well-evidenced approach to RAM reporting.
Our purpose-built platform RAM Assess enables you to complete recyclability assessments accurately and efficiently at scale. It can identify missing information, generate component-level ratings and highlight packaging at risk of higher modulated waste disposal fees.
By combining the innovative technology of RAM Assess with our team’s expert compliance support, Clarity can help you save time, strengthen confidence in your assessments and turn your packaging data into valuable commercial insight – allowing you to make well-informed decisions that could reduce future compliance costs.
6. Giving you back your time
Managing packaging data can be a time-consuming process, particularly alongside the day-to-day demands of running a business. Collecting information from suppliers, checking its accuracy, keeping records up to date and preparing data for submission can all take valuable time away from your core business objectives.
If managing this process internally is placing too much pressure on your resources, Clarity can provide additional support. Our specialist Data Services team can manage the process on your behalf, from collecting and structuring information to validating data and preparing it for submission.
This means less time spent chasing data, checking spreadsheets and dealing with the practical demands of EPR reporting. Instead, you can rely on experienced professionals to manage the process, while your team concentrates on what matters most to your business.
Why pay more to manage EPR alone?
As we’ve outlined, registering directly leaves your internal team responsible for interpreting requirements, preparing submissions, managing regulatory audits, purchasing PRNs and responding to regulatory change.
Joining Clarity equips you with an entire team of packaging compliance specialists, and – based on current fees – it costs less than registering directly.
That means less uncertainty, less pressure on your internal resources and greater confidence that your packaging obligations are being managed effectively.
