Published today (January 22), the results show that an estimated 4.5% reduction in the carbon impacts of packaging has been accomplished, while food waste prevention has led to an 80% boost in food redistribution.
Originally established in 2005, the Courtauld Commitment is a voluntary responsibility deal between the Waste & Resources Action Progamme (WRAP) and retailers and brands aimed at improving resource efficiency and reducing the carbon and wider environmental impact of the UK grocery sector.
Some 53 signatories have signed up to the agreement, and are expected to adopt a range of targets under the third phase of the scheme, which runs until December 2015.
These include improving packaging design to maximise recycled content, a target to reduce packaging waste by 3% to the end of 2015, and a reduction in the amount of household food and drink waste by 5% by 2015.
Reduction
Signatories’ efforts to reduce packaging, increase recycled content and use different packaging materials in the first year has led to a ‘significant’ reduction in carbon, with the 4.5% drop achieved well ahead of the 2015 target of zero increase, WRAP claims.
While there has been little change in the overall manufacturing and retail waste against the 3% reduction target, signatories report an increase in recycling and recovery, with less material going to sewer or for disposal.
WRAP added that the measured change against the manufacturing & retail waste target (which combines food waste and single-use transit packaging as the main components) was a slight increase of around 0.1% over the 3% reduction target.
Signatories have also reported a substantial increase in the volumes of unsold food redistributed for human consumption; almost doubling from 21,000 tonnes to 38,000 tonnes per year.
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Progress against the household food waste target is not collected on an annual basis, but will be available for final year reporting.
To ensure the Phase 3 target is met, WRAP suggests a concerted effort by signatories is required to focus their activities on the implementation of more waste prevention and resource efficiency measures.
The organisation will meanwhile continue to be work with signatories to help them target their activity to achieve the most effective results – such as by the sharing best practice techniques.
Progress
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.”
Resource minister Dan Rogerson added: “Everyone has a role to play in reducing food waste and we are determined to support food retailers and industry in their efforts to improve products, packaging and guidance which can help consumers to save money and avoid waste.
“Where appropriate surplus food should be re-used for human consumption and this report shows an impressive 80% increase in the amount we’re redistributing. Making the best possible use of our resources is vital and while there is still work to be done I congratulate everyone signed-up to the Courtauld Commitment for their efforts this year.”
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