‘Courtauld 2025’ will follow on from the third phase of the scheme for retailers and manufacturers which launched in May 2013 and runs until 2015 (see letsrecycle.com story), and was backed by brands including Boots, Aldi, Heinz and Asda.
The commitment is funded by Westminster, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Governments and delivered by WRAP.
The next stage of the agreement is proposed to take the form of a ten-year framework, running from 2016-2025. WRAP is currently in the process of discussing with Defra and members of its Product Sustainability Forum on over-arching carbon, water and waste reduction for the whole food system.
Proposals
A formal proposition for the new phase of Courtauld is due to be finalised in 2015 and is planned to start in early 2016.
Much of the work is aimed at helping consumers to reduce food waste, and for businesses to share efficiency savings along the supply chain.
In a statement on its website, WRAP said: “Central to the proposed agreement is the ambition to help consumers to reduce avoidable food waste and to aid businesses to share efficiency savings along supply chains, waste less and get more value from unavoidable waste, and thereby increase business resilience. WRAP is keen to work with industry on developing the next steps and will be consulting a range of stakeholders.”
The organisation added: “Given the scale of the global and national challenges around increased demand for food and the associated impacts, there is a strong need for sustained action. Having an agreement that spans a longer timeframe will help enable organisations to assess the evidence, identify priorities, and work collaboratively to move beyond changes at individual stages of the food life-cycle and focus on optimising system-wide outcomes.”
Results from Courtauld Phase 3 have yet to be finalised. The third phase gave signatories a target to reduce household food and drink waste by 5% compared to levels generated in 2012.
Figures published in November 2013 revealed that during the second phase of the Courtauld Commitment, which ran from 2010 to 2012, signatories failed to meet the target to oversee a total reduction of food waste by 4%.
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