WRAP shares first-year results of Courtauld Commitment

EFFORTS to reduce food waste in the UK have led to an 80% increase in food redistribution and 4.5% reduction in carbon impact of packaging, according to the first-year results of the Courtauld Commitment Phase 3.

The Courtauld Commitment is a voluntary agreement between the waste prevention advisory body Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and brands that aim to reduce environmental impact. Phase 3 began in May 2013 and ends in December 2015.

Shredded food waste undergoes treatment

Signatories noted a significant increase in the volumes of unsold food redistributed for human consumption, from 21kt to 38kt. They also said that recycling and recovery initiatives have reportedly increased, which means less goes to the sewer. However, overall manufacturing and retail waste reduction was minimal.

On packaging, they increase recycled content and use different packaging materials in order to reduce carbon impact.

Dr Richard Swannell, director of Sustainable Food Systems, WRAP

Dr Richard Swannell, director of Sustainable Food Systems at WRAP said: “I am delighted that progress on the packaging target has exceeded expectations and redistribution has increased significantly. There is still much to do before the end of this third phase though, with the biggest challenge being the manufacturing and retail target.  We will be working closely with signatories to help ensure all the targets are met.”

WRAP and signatories will continue to work together to meet their target. An outcome of this commitment is the sharing of good practice put together by WRAP in a series of case studies.

(Photos courtesy of WRAP)