Thirty businesses have joined a renewed industry push to slash waste from the food and drink sector since it was launched in March, according to waste adviser Wrap.
The targets under the Courtauld Commitment aims to cut waste and greenhouse gases by 20% by 2025, as well as reduce the food and drink sector’s impacts on water. It includes for the first time suppliers, local authorities and the farming sector.
The commitment’s latest signatories include:
- Retailers: Boots UK and Iceland Foods.
- Brands and manufacturers: Burton's Biscuit Company, Dairy Crest, Produce World Group and Marlow Foods (Puffin Produce and Quorn).
- Hospitality and food service: Compass, Nando's Chickenland and Subway.
- Local authorities: City of Cardiff Council, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire’s Waste Partnership, Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA), Monmouthshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and the Vale of the White Horse District Council.
- Redistribution organisations and charities: FareShare, His Church, Neighbourly, the Real Junk Food Project and Transition Bro Gwaun.
- Trade and sector organisations, government and academia: British Institute for Facilities Management, Catering Equipment Suppliers Association, HCC - Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion, Wales), Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Association of Care Caterering (NACC) and the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and Soil Association.
The latest signatories mean the voluntary pledge now covers 95% of the food and drink retail market by market share, as well as manufacturers and hospitality and food service companies.
David Moon, head of sustainable food at Wrap, said: ‘Building connections right across the supply chain makes Courtauld 2025 a powerful voluntary agreement and we are delighted with the desire for action shown from such a range of signatories.’
The waste body is planning to relaunch its Love Food Hate Waste campaign to drive down household food waste. The organisation is also looking to industry to lead innovation in reducing waste in the supply chain and wants to identify best practice to share throughout the sector.
Wrap is also working with the Food Standards Agency and the environment department to review and update guidance on date labeling for food products.
