Industry commits to halve UK food waste

The UK’s largest retailers, food producers, manufacturers, and food service companies have committed to ambitious milestones laid out in a new industry initiative developed with research and training charity IGD and WRAP to further reduce the UK’s food waste problem.

The Food Waste Reduction Roadmap encompasses the entire supply chain from field to fork, and shows the actions large businesses will take to address food waste both in their own operations, and by working to support their suppliers. It also sets out how these businesses can engage with consumers to help reduce their food waste which amounts to £20 billion a year.

The Roadmap has the support of the UK’s largest food trade bodies, businesses across the supply chain, Defra and the Welsh and Scottish Governments.

By September 2019, the first major milestone on the Roadmap, the aim is to have fifty per cent of the UK’s largest 250 food businesses measuring, reporting and acting on food waste – with all 250 companies doing so by 2026.

To make this happen, the Roadmap is published with a wide range of new resources to enable businesses to act consistently, and support work already underway by many companies through setting out a clear collaborative journey the industry can follow.

“Together, WRAP and IGD have mobilised industry leaders to create a bold sector-wide Roadmap, showing clearly what UK businesses must do,” said Marcus Gover, CEO of WRAP. “There are many businesses working hard already, but many more need to focus on food waste.”

Adds Joanne Denney-Finch, chief executive of IGD added: “The Food Waste Reduction Roadmap presents a huge opportunity for every business within the UK food and grocery industry to provide reassurance for shoppers. UK shoppers see industry food waste at the top of their priorities, and by working together with the total food chain, we’re delighted to have secured a world first, with the UK leading the way in this important area.”

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