Sustainability
Plastic recycling targets ‘unachievable’
New plastic packaging recycling targets set by the UK government are unachievable and potentially counterproductive, says a leading industry body. The British Plastics Federation (BPF) says a proposal to increase plastic packaging recycling to 56.9 per cent by 2020 is ‘not achievable in less than 10 years’. The new targets detailed in a consultation paper […]
Sustainable palm oil coup for Lipsa
Spanish oils and fats company Lipidos Santiga (Lipsa) is now certified to process and supply sustainable palm oil in the Segregation category as specified by the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) criteria. Lipsa says it’s the first Spanish company to obtain such certification, and one of the first in Europe. Its first shipment of […]
Merger for French Food Safety agency
The French Food Safety agency (AFSSA) is to be merged with the French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (AFSSET). The combined agency, which the French Government says will be ‘a clearly identifiable player on the international scene’, will be operational by 1 July, 2010. The new body, which is yet to be given […]
2010 will be a landmark year for food and drink sector management of green issues, predicts Campden BRI
The coming 12 months will be pivotal in setting the stage for food and drink industry environmental sustainability through the next decade and beyond, according to Campden BRI. A significant shift in the measurement and management of environmental impact is predicted by the research organisation. It suggests that as the sector continues to navigate this […]
Top award for McCormick
McCormick UK, the British subsidiary of spice and herb firm McCormick & Company, scooped the Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year title at the recent Manufacturer of the Year Awards 2009. Well known for its Schwartz brand, McCormick UK won the award for the improvement of its environmental performance and reduction of its carbon footprint in […]
Beneo Institute up and running
Beneo Group has launched the Beneo Institute – a new arm of its operation that will help its customers innovate in ‘increasingly complex and strict regulatory environments’. Speaking at the Fi Europe trade show in Frankfurt, Beneo Group executive board member Yves Servotte said the increasing regulatory demands placed on the functional foods industry was […]
Milestone for BRC recycling label
The 50th company has signed up to a new, universal on-pack recycling label launched seven months ago by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Since then, participants have put the label on 50,000 different product lines. Recent signatories include Pepsi, London 2012 and Yeo Valley. Over 85 per cent of grocery retail by turnover has signed […]
UK retailers hit target on environmental pledges
With less than a month to go before the crucial Copenhagen climate change conference, a string of major household-name UK retailers say they have met challenging environmental pledges ahead of schedule, and are committed to meeting even more demanding targets. One of their key achievements is a 130,000 tonne reduction in the amount of waste […]
Meat and fish waste under the spotlight
A resource map outlining where and how much meat and fish – as well as it associated packaging – is wasted in the supply chain is to be developed in a bid to cut all three. The new research, led by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and Envirowise, will identify the amount of food […]
Tesco’s new twist on BOGOF
Tesco has revealed plans to cut Britain’s food waste by turning the traditional Buy One Get One Free (BOGOF) offer into Buy One Get One Free – Later, which means customers will be encouraged to pick up the second item at a later date. Shoppers will take an item under a BOGOF offer and receive […]
IPU warning
Farmers or agronomists who discover products in farm stores containing the herbicide isoproturon (IPU) should arrange for prompt and proper disposal, and not be tempted to use or recommend it under any circumstances, warns the Voluntary Initiative (VI). UK approval for all products containing IPU was revoked by ministers back in March 2007 after a […]
Praise for packaging figures
The amount of packaging used per capita in the UK has remained virtually static over the past decade while recycling rates have more than doubled, according to new EU figures. INCPEN (Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment) says data released by the European Commission showed packing totals per capita in the UK were 176kg/ […]
Sales surge for Sainsbury’s
Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has posted a 5.4% rise in second-quarter sales – keeping up the pressure on market leader Tesco. The supermarket chain is making 800,000 more transactions per week than it was this time last year. The firm said it performed well in ‘what remains a challenging consumer environment’ but warned that growth would […]
A glass of its own
A new study shows consumers are just as likely to buy products in jars and bottles made with mixed colour recycled glass as they are to purchase items in clear glass packaging – a finding that could boost demand for containers with high recycled content. WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), which commissioned the research, […]