Questions to ask any EPR provider
Most EPR buying conversations run on a feature comparison. Features aren't what goes wrong. What goes wrong is incentive, data ownership, and who carries the risk when a submission is challenged. These are the questions worth asking... of us and of anyone else.
Ten questions, answered honestly
We don't. Many providers do, and it isn't disqualifying, but it means their recommendation on tonnage placement isn't neutral. Ask directly and get it in writing.
We don't. Ask every provider this one. It's the single question that tells you whose interests the advice serves.
Yours, exported in full, in a usable format. Some providers will give you a PDF. Ask what format, and ask before you sign.
With enough in-house resource, yes — and if you have that resource, software will be cheaper than us. We're the right answer when the data work is the problem.
Ask whether they defend the classification or hand you the file. There's a real difference and it surfaces at the worst possible moment.
Ask for the full picture, not just the headline fee. Some providers charge per submission, per SKU, per country or by subscription. Extras often appear for chasing supplier data, resubmissions, regulator queries or mid-year changes. Ask what happens to the price if your range grows.
How we answer: We scope the work before quoting, so you know what's included up front. Some services, such as our PRN audit, are free to start, with a fee only if we find savings.
Find out whether a named specialist works on your data, or whether you're mainly given a login. Ask who chases suppliers, who checks the numbers and who answers when the regulator gets in touch. Software-only providers leave most of this with your team.
How we answer: Our specialists do the data work, from supplier requests to calculations and submission-ready returns. You stay in control and sign off, but your team isn't the one chasing suppliers or filling gaps.
Large UK producers must assess the recyclability of the household packaging they supply using RAM, and report a red, amber or green rating. Those ratings will affect the fees you pay. Ask how the provider assesses each component, what evidence they keep, and how they handle the move from RAM version 1.1 to RAM 2027.
How we answer: We assess packaging at component level against the current RAM guidance, and keep the evidence behind every rating. We also flag where a change of material or label could move a rating, and its fee, from red to amber or green.
If you sell into the EU, you may have separate obligations in each country you sell into. Many countries also require a local authorised representative. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) adds new requirements on top. Ask whether the provider covers these under one team, or whether you'll need separate providers in each country.
How we answer: We manage EPR reporting in over 80 countries, including national schemes across Europe. For PPWR, we help prepare and verify the technical documentation that sits behind a Declaration of Conformity. The manufacturer signs the Declaration itself, not us.
A good provider will tell you honestly when you don't need them. If they can't answer this, be cautious.
How we answer: You may not need us if you're a small producer with a simple range, or if you have the in-house expertise and time to manage your own data. You also don't need us if all you need is scheme membership to cover your recycling obligations. In those cases, a compliance scheme or a self-serve tool may be enough. We're most useful when ranges are large, supplier data is patchy, or you're reporting in more than one country.