Packaging and redistribution

The first year results of the Courtauld Commitment Phase 3, released by Wrap, show an approximate 4.5 per cent reduction of the carbon impacts of packaging, while food waste prevention efforts have led to 80 per cent more food being redistributed.

Signatories’ efforts to reduce packaging, increase recycled content and use different packaging materials has contributed to a significant reduction in the carbon impact of packaging, which is down by around 4.5 per cent, well ahead of the 2015 target of zero increase.

While there has been little change in the overall manufacturing and retail waste against a three per cent reduction target, signatories report an increase in recycling and recovery, with less material going to sewer or for disposal. Signatories have also reported a substantial increase in the volumes of unsold food redistributed for human consumption; almost doubling from 21kt to 38kt.

To ensure the target is met, a concerted effort by signatories is required to focus their activities on the implementation of more waste prevention and resource efficiency measures. Wrap will be working with signatories to help them target their activity to achieve the most effective results. One aspect of this is the sharing of good practice. Wrap has published a series of case studies illustrating some of the changes introduced by signatories.

Progress against the household food waste target is not collected yearly but will be available for final year reporting.

Dr Richard Swannell, director of sustainable food systems at Wrap, says: “I am delighted that progress on the packaging target has exceeded expectations and redistribution has increased significantly. There is still much to do before the end of this third phase though, with the biggest challenge being the manufacturing and retail target. We will be working closely with signatories to help ensure all the targets are met.”