Retailers and brands slashing grocery waste

Big retailers and household brands have outdone targets for scrapping waste in their grocery food stuffs’ supply chain and packaging. According to figures from Government waste prevention body WRAP, there […]

Big retailers and household brands have outdone targets for scrapping waste in their grocery food stuffs’ supply chain and packaging.

According to figures from Government waste prevention body WRAP, there has been significant progress from groceries to hit ambitious waste reduction and recycling targets.

The so-called Courtauld Commitment has 53 firms signed up to it including Asda, M&S, Coca-Cola, Waitrose, Unilever and Carlsberg UK. It has set targets for slashing waste between 2010 and 2012, based on 2009 levels.

Supply chain waste has already been crushed by 8.8%, well ahead of a three-year target of 5%.

The packaging target is also on course, at more than three quarters of the way towards the target 10% carbon reduction.

Dr Richard Swannell, Director for Design & Waste Prevention at WRAP said: “These are good results and indicative of the hard work that signatories have been putting in to be more resource efficient, benefiting of the environment and their bottom line. However, there is more to do.

“The reduction in supply chain waste is particularly important given it’s a new area for Courtauld. In this, its final year, we are continuing to work with the sector to help ensure the Courtauld Phase 2 targets are met in full.”

Lord de Mauley, Resource Management Minister added: “I’m pleased that more and more businesses are realising that reducing waste and packaging throughout their supply chain is not only good for the environment but good for their bottom line too.”

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