The initiatives, which are to be spearheaded by WRAP Cymru, will focus on three core areas of resources: food waste, textiles and waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE).
Campaigns to increase recycling of these materials will be tackled through:
- The Wales Food Waste Prevention Programme
- The Wales Sustainable Products Programme
- The Wales Resource Management Programme
The first project will see WRAP Cymru work across the food life cycle and “help minimise” the carbon and water footprints of Welsh food and drink producers.
Speaking at today’s event, WRAP chief executive Liz Goodwin, said: “We will bring together businesses and charities to ensure that throughout Wales food redistribution is no longer the exception but the norm.
“In particular, we will establish Wales as the UK food redistribution lead – in which food producers, suppliers, retailers, caterers and householders will work together to ensure any unwanted food goes to those who need it the most.”
Electrical and textiles
The second initiative will target manufacturers, retailers and consumers in Wales to develop a Sustainable Products Programme.
This will deliver a circular electrical and textiles economy for Wales which will reduce the environmental impact of electrical and electronic equipment and textiles.
Dr Goodwin added: “Part of this work will be to inspire manufacturers to rethink the way they design and produce goods, supporting retailers to make it easier to return products which are no longer needed, encouraging shoppers to make the most of what they buy and enabling reprocessors to collect and recover high value raw materials.”
The final scheme, the Wales Resource Management Programme, will work with organisations to help facilitate the reuse of products.
Running until March 2018, the schemes will benefit from around £9.5 million in Welsh Government financing – representing an increase of over 40% on WRAP Cymru’s previous core funding.
Dr Goodwin continued: “We believe that Wales has the potential to become the first truly circular economy, and we want to work with all of you here today to deliver it.
“In doing so we can together help create between 12,000 and 30,000 new Welsh jobs forecasted by WRAP economists. And can together help tap into the £2 billion a year cost savings on materials alone, as identified by a recent WRAP Cymru and Ellen MacArthur Foundation report.”
Wales is aiming to reach a 70% recycling rate by 2025 – and an ambitious zero waste goal by 2050. The country is currently striving to meet a statutory target of 58% by next year.
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