One million tonnes of waste prevented through Courtauld success

23 September 2010

The results of the first phase of the Courtauld Commitment – a responsibility deal between the UK grocery sector and WRAP and delivered in partnership with local authorities - show that a total of 670,000 tonnes of food waste and 520,000 tonnes of packaging have been avoided across the UK between 2005 and 2009.

Collectively, this avoided waste could have filled 128,000 standard refuse trucks, which bumper to bumper would stretch from Truro to Inverness. The value of this avoided food and packaging waste is estimated at £1.8 billion and the CO2 equivalent emissions avoided amount to around 3.3 million tonnes, the same as stopping half a million around-the-world flights.

This means two of the three Courtauld targets have been achieved - to design out packaging waste growth (zero growth achieved in 2008) and reduce food waste by 155,000 tonnes per year (exceeded with 270,000 tonnes per year less food waste arising in 2009/10 than in 2007/08). 

A third target - to reduce the total amount of packaging waste over the same period – has not been achieved.  Total packaging has consistently remained at approximately 2.9 million tonnes between 2006 and 2009.   

The main reason behind this is a 6.4 per cent increase in grocery sales volumes since the agreement began in 2005 and participating retailers taking a greater proportion of the market for beer and wine.  Bottles and cans for beer, wine and cider represent a third of all grocery packaging by weight.

However, on average, across the range of groceries we buy packaging has reduced by around 4% for each product, whether that is through using more concentrated detergents, or through lightweight cans.

Liz Goodwin, CEO at WRAP, which manages the Courtauld Commitment, said the responsibility deal between the public and private sector had been critical in tackling packaging and food waste:

“This is good progress particularly against the backdrop of an unexpected increase in grocery sales.  Bringing together major players, including all the big supermarkets, and drawing on our combined expertise, is really helping householders put less packaging and food waste in their bins. 

“We’re especially pleased with the food waste reduction which is way beyond target.  It shows how a collaborative approach between the grocery sector, consumers and local authorities can work to reduce waste and save people money.

The evidence shows that more people are now aware that food waste is an issue, and are choosing to do something about it. More people are checking their cupboards before they shop, making lists and date labels are better understood.  All of this helps UK shoppers make the most of the food they buy, waste less and save money.

“What we do next – WRAP, the grocery sector and local authorities - is important.  The next phase of the Courtauld Commitment looks more at the food and packaging waste from manufacture to how they’re used in households.  It’s not enough to just focus on packaging and weight – the wider carbon impact also counts – and that’s what we will be doing.  

“39 major retailers, brands and manufacturers are on board with that so the future looks promising.  But there’s always more that can be done and we are working closely with the industry to help reduce the environmental impact of things we all buy,” she added.

Courtauld Commitment Phase 1 results

Commenting on the results, Environment Minister, Lord Henley said:
“The results of the first phase of the Courtauld Commitment show real progress on reducing food and packaging waste, and demonstrate how effectively governments and businesses can work together through responsibility deals.

“Phase Two of the Courtauld Commitment sees us going even further to tackle food and packaging waste, and I would urge companies who are considering signing up to join us in rising to this new challenge.”
Scotland Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “The Courtauld Commitment has driven a revolution in the nation's shopping baskets by changing the way products are packaged. It has been a clear success and it has led to real changes in the products and packaging we see on our supermarket shelves.  But there is more to do if we are to deliver on our aims for a zero waste Scotland.
"We want retailers and food manufacturers to up their ambition in terms of making more packaging easy to recycle, to use more recycled content, and to reduce the impact of food waste and other waste throughout the whole supply chain.  We will only get to zero waste by everyone doing their bit, and I want to see more Scottish firms, particularly our iconic food and drinks industries, signing up to initiatives like Courtauld."
Welsh Assembly Government Environment Minister Jane Davidson said:
“My aim is to make waste prevention as much of a normal part of life as recycling is today. These results show that we can reach this ambition.

“Reducing the amount of food we throw away is one of the priorities in Wales’ waste strategy, Towards Zero Waste, so I am particularly encouraged by the reduction in food waste.

“I also commend the way that retailers and manufacturers are working together to deliver the Courtauld Commitment, and look forward to seeing the results of the next phase.”

Northern Ireland Environment Minister Edwin Poots said:
“I welcome the results of the Courtauld Commitment Phase 1 as a positive move in the right direction in the reduction of packaging.  Phase 2 of the Commitment will continue, and extend, the contribution to waste reduction by the UK retail grocery supply chain and households and this very much complements the aims of the Rethink Waste campaign which I recently launched in Northern Ireland.’’

British Retail Consortium Director General, Stephen Robertson said:
“This is a spectacular achievement. Preventing waste is the holy grail of the drive for a zero-waste economy. Recycling is good. It produces environmental benefits but dramatically more resources are saved by not producing that material in the first place.
 
“The huge fall in food waste is the best news and a tribute to retailers’ work with customers, supported by WRAP and local authority initiatives. With food production generating significant emissions – much more than packaging – cutting the amount of food wasted means big environmental and financial gains for us all.”
 
Food & Drink Federation Director of Sustainability, Andrew Kuyk said:
“The Courtauld Commitment has been a key part of FDF’s Five-fold Environmental Ambition and we are delighted that our members have made such an important contribution to the very substantial savings in waste which grocery manufacturers and retailers have helped to deliver. 

“This shows what can be done through a partnership approach and we look forward to building on these achievements as we move to the next phase of the Courtauld process.”