UK resource-efficiency charity WRAP has unveiled the Courtauld Commitment 2025, an initiative aimed at bringing together organisations from across the food sector to make food and drink production and consumption in the UK more sustainable.
Some of the signatories announced at the launch include retailers like Asda, Musgrave and Tesco, as well as brands such as Associated British Foods and Coca-Cola.
The agreement as also been signed by 23 local authorities, including the London Waste and Recycling Board, and trade organisations like Dairy UK, Food and Drink Federation, and the Food Standards Agency.
The Courtauld agreement has three targets: to reduce the UK’s food and drink waste by 20 per cent, reduce the greenhouse-gas intensity of food and drink in the UK by 20 per cent, and reduce the impact of water use in the supply chain – all by 2025.
WRAP estimates that the commitment’s targets will deliver £20 billion in savings to the UK economy, including £4 billion in savings for businesses.
It will also help the UK deliver its promises on the objectives of COP 21 and put the UK on track to halve household and retail waste.
Dr Richard Swannell, director of sustainable food systems at WRAP, commented, "The pressures of resource scarcity, population growth and our changing climate will have profound effects on our food supply in the coming years, and business efficiency.
"To safeguard UK food, we need a step change to increase sustainable food and drink production and consumption, conserve resources and combat climate change. Courtauld 2025 will do this."
Details of the agreement and a full list of signatories can be found here.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Jenny Whelan. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
