Deal To Cut Food Packaging

Almost thirty top retailers and manufactures, including Tesco, Asda and Unilever, have signed up to a new food packaging initiative, that could save up to £1 billion.

The deal by grocers and supermarkets to reduce wastage has been welcomed by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.

He said the scheme, now in its second phase, could cut carbon emissions by three million tonnes.

The Courtauld Commitment will see the industry make renewed efforts to help householders waste less of the food they buy, reduce the environmental impact of packaging, and for the first time, address the waste from manufacture and supply.

A consultation on ambitious new targets to recycle over 70% of packaging waste was also published today that could save approximately eight million tonnes of waste from landfill, and nine million tonnes of greenhouse gases by 2020.

Mr Benn said: "Grocery manufacturers and retailers have already started to take action and have halted the increase in packaging.

"The new commitment sees them go further than ever in reducing food waste and packaging, and making it smarter – and I want to see members of the industry continuing to sign-up over the coming months."

Phase one of the commitment successfully ran from July 2005 to March 2010.

Liz Goodwin, WRAP CEO, said: "This new agreement will bring about changes ranging from more efficient methods of production right through to the impact of household consumption.

"It takes into account the environmental impact of product waste in the supply chain as well as at household level."

She added: "We’re thrilled that so many signatories – old and new - have already committed to this new agreement, and we hope that many more will soon follow their example."

(PR/NS)