The UK is leading the way in food and plastic waste reduction

With the Climate Action Summit taking place in New York last week and the global demonstrations demanding action on climate change, sustainability is high on the news agenda. While the challenges are huge, at least there are positive developments in the UK on tackling food and plastic waste.

The first annual update of the Wrap’s Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, unveiled on 24 September, shows that 156 of the UK’s largest supermarkets, hospitality companies and food and drink manufacturers have committed to halve food waste by 2030.

As well as this, our ambitious Courtauld Commitment is bringing together organisations across the food system to make food and drink production and consumption more sustainable.

The first report of the Champions 12.3 initiative, of which Wrap is proud to be a member, shows the UK has made the most progress in reducing food loss and waste since the mid-2000s: a reduction of 19% from 2007 to 2015.

In addition, the UK Plastics Pact – a world first – unites government, business and citizens in a voluntary pledge to keep plastics in the economy but out of the environment, by eliminating single-use plastics and ensuring more plastic packaging is reused or recycled.

So far, 70 major retailers and brands have signed up, representing 85% of plastic packaging in the UK. It’s the first of a global network, with Plastic Pacts also now in development in Chile, South Africa, Canada and Malaysia.

Our ‘Blueprint for Voluntary Agreements’, based on experience gained through the EU-funded Refresh project, shows how a positive and collaborative approach can deliver change faster and more flexibly.

The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Mexico and South Africa, as well as the Pacific Coast Collaborative of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California, have all opted to take this route.

The challenges we all face are huge and there is an imperative to act. Voluntary agreements are having a positive impact in the UK and I think they will also be part of the solution around the world. Working with partners, Wrap will help as much as it can.