ACS

The grocery sector has ended packaging growth in the UK despite a sharp increase in sales, the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) said.

Having worked with the UK’s top retailers and brands to achieve this target, the sector is now on track to cut food and packaging waste.

This success is the result of the Courtauld Commitment. This is a voluntary agreement between WRAP, Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), the Scottish and Welsh governments and the UK grocery sector to achieve significant reductions in household packaging and food waste. It was achieved by the grocery sector despite unanticipated challenges including 1.8% growth in the grocery sector and population growth of 0.5% per annum. It is the first step towards meeting the Courtauld Commitment’s ultimate target of decreasing the amount of packaging waste by 2010.

WRAP revealed that signatories to the Courtauld Commitment had achieved the 2008 objective and were on target to meet the 2010 objectives on food and packaging waste.

The Courtauld Commitment is due to run until 2010.

In addition, by April 2010, WRAP asked the retailers and brands to further support its Love Food Hate Waste Campaign to help achieve its objective of a 155,000 tonne reduction in household food waste. WRAP explained that the contribution by retailers and brands could help make a real impact on consumer behaviour in this area. Possible actions could include developing a wider range of portion sizes, providing more extensive storage advice and clarity on date labelling. However, WRAP was clear that this will form just one part of the solution in helping consumers reduce food waste.

WRAP CEO Liz Goodwin said: “WRAP is delighted that the grocery sector has responded positively to the challenge of tackling packaging and food waste. Their achievement in ending packaging growth is an impressive one, particularly against the backdrop of unexpectedly high grocery sales and population growth.

Joan Ruddock, Environment Minister, said: “Packaging is the most visual, intrusive and irritating part of household rubbish. People say they feel it’s out of their control and that they want something done about it.”