The UK’s resource efficiency charity WRAP, on behalf of the UK Government and Devolved Administrations, has today unveiled a pioneering commitment which brings together organisations from across the food system for the first time to make food and drink production and consumption more sustainable for the future.
The Courtauld Commitment 2025 is the world–leading voluntary agreement to work along the entire food chain to reduce the environmental impact of our food and drink, from farm to fork and beyond.
The commitment goes further than ever before with three ambitious targets:
• A 20% reduction in food and drink waste arising in the UK
• A 20% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity of food & drink consumed in the UK
• A reduction in impact associated with water use in the supply chain
Signatories announced at the launch of the agreement include the world’s largest food and drink manufacturers, and all the major UK retailers; representing over 93% of the 2016 UK market share. They are as follows:
Retailers: Aldi, ASDA, Central England Co-operative, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Musgraves, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, The Co-operative Food and Waitrose.
Brands & manufacturers: Associated British Foods, ARLA, Birds Eye UK, Coca Cola Enterprises, Heineken, Nestlé UK and Ireland, Premier Foods, Unilever, and Warburtons.
Hospitality and foodservice: apetito, Bidvest, Compass, Greene King Retail, KFC, OCS, Pizza Hut, Sodexo UK & Ireland.
Local authorities: 23 authorities including the London Waste and Recycling Board representing more than 42% of the UK’s population.
Trade and sector organisations: Government and academia: British Hospitality Association, British Retail Consortium, Chilled Food Association, Dairy UK, Food & Drink Federation, Food Standards Agency, Institute of Hospitality, Sustainable Restaurant Association and WWF.
Signatories will work together with WRAP to identify new actions and opportunities to save resources which can be shared across the entire supply chain, to make the whole system more sustainable and resilient to supply chain disruptions. Signatories also commit to implementing changes, measuring the benefits, and helping other businesses and people to realise savings.
Local authorities and trade bodies will be vital in helping engage people in and out of home and raise awareness to a wider range of businesses outside of the main signatory base, essential given the targets extend to UK-wide impacts.
WRAP will report on progress to reflect the combined impact across the entire food system, and estimates that meeting the Commitment targets will deliver £20bn worth of savings to the UK economy. Approximately £4bn in business savings are possible.
To read more about The Courtauld Commitment 2025, go to the Industry News tab in the right hand column.