This applies to products put on to the market in 2027, which will be assessed and reported on in 2028.
The ‘Red’ rating means that the fees paid per tonne for PE-lined PET trays are modulated – initially at 20% but rising to 100% in the third year.
This change sees Defra and Pack UK revert to their original position on PE-lined PET trays, after briefly changing the guidance for RAM 1.1 which was published last year.
“While we’re unsure what made them change their mind, it makes sense because PE and PET do not mix well together because they have different melting points, different densities, different operating temperature ranges. They're not compatible materials,” explains Gavin Fuller, Technical Business Development Manager, KM Packaging.
PE-lined PET trays are used because PET itself is a hard material, and the PE-lining provides a softer more ‘gluey’ surface to seal a PE-based lidding film to. Simply put, it’s easier (and sometimes quicker, at lower temperatures, and through contamination) to seal PE lidding films to PE-lined trays than directly to PET – usually.
