Our history and impact

The launch of the India Plastics Pact - the first in Asia

A roadmap protecting critical water resources for food supply, for nature and for local communities.

Our most ambitious food and drink voluntary agreement to date, delivering farm-to-fork reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, food waste and water stress.

New sustainable textile agreement changing clothes and homeware for good to halve their climate impact.

UK’s first national week of action to tackle household food waste and drive home the message, Wasting Food Feeds Climate Change.

WRAP named a Global Alliance Partner of The Earthshot Prize, launched by Prince William

The UK meat industry launched a world-leading model for sustainable production and supply which will tackle deforestation, cut emissions and reduce the £3 billion of meat wasted in the UK every year.

We set out six steps needed to set the UK economy back on track and safeguard natural resources post COVID-19.

We launch FLAWLESS (Halving Food Loss and Waste by Leveraging Economic Systems), a global coalition of partners to accelerate action on food loss and waste in Indonesia, South Africa, and Mexico.

The £6.5m fund supported the use of recycled materials by manufacturers in Wales. In 2020, it extended to include preparation for re-use, refurbishment and re-manufacturing activities.

We launched Clear on Plastics to give citizens clear information about the complex world of plastics and the environment, helping them to make their own informed choices.

The UK Plastics Pact success inspired a global network tackling plastic pollution. We supported the development of the South African Plastics Pact and the first regional pact: The European Plastics Pact where our role is to act as secretariat.

Recycling grant fund launched to improve recycling rates across a range of materials

A bold new campaign was launched to tackle nearly £3 billion worth of wasted food across the hospitality sector each year, of which 75% could have been eaten.

WRAP received funding from the Roddenberry Prize to develop a bespoke programme to tackle food waste in Mexico City. Further funding was received in 2019 from P4G to continue the work in Mexico.

Launched in partnership with UKRI, we announced £1.4m fund to support creative business ideas to stop plastic being thrown away. £1m grants have been awarded and the fund is open now for refill infrastructure pilots.

In collaboration with IGD, a new initiative saw businesses address food waste in their operations and work with their suppliers and customers to reduce their food waste. To date, over 150 organisations have signed up. This year the Roadmap was extended to include farms.

In partnership with WWF and the Rivers Trust, we launched a new Water Ambition to reduce water usage in food and drink production both in the UK and internationally.

£500,000 fund for charities to redistribute quality surplus food to people in need, throughout England. The fund helped local charities provide the equivalent of six million meals.

The UK Plastics Pact launched - a collaborative initiative to tackle the UK’s growing issue of plastic waste. Four targets identified, with achievements of 1.5bn ready meal trays of un-recyclable black plastic removed from UK shelves.

TRiFOCAL (Transforming City FOod hAbits for Life) launched to reduce avoidable food waste in the capital and increase awareness of more healthy and sustainable eating. The initiative finished in December 2020 with Londoners throwing away 9% less food.

Phase 3 of Courtauld reveals £100m business saving in food waste reduction over 3 years as we launched the next stage; our 10-year commitment for the grocery sector.

WRAP began investigations into greater consistency in recycling in UK homes. We launched the Framework for Greater Consistency in household recycling in the England as a result.

Our Love Your Clothes consumer campaign launches, inspiring and empowering consumers to reuse and recycle clothing. Using social media influencers to engage the public we find creative ways to make clothes last longer.

SCAP brought together textile manufacturers and fashion brands to reduce water consumption, carbon emissions and waste. Our 2017 results show that we are on track to deliver against the 2020 targets.

By 2015, signatories to our Hospitality and Food Service Agreement saved an estimated 24,000 tonnes of food from being thrown away, the equivalent to 48million meals with a value to businesses of £67m.

Our second voluntary agreement for the UK grocery sector was launched. Between 2010 and 2012, Courtauld Commitment 2 achieved a reduction in waste of 1.7 million tonnes.

We launched our Love Food Hate Waste campaign, which helps people to waste less food and save money. Between 2007 and 2012, food waste reduced by 21%. By 2020, 1 in 3 people in the UK is inspired to act on food waste by LFHW.

Over the four-year period of our first Courtauld Commitment voluntary agreement, 1.2 million tonnes of food and packaging waste was prevented, saving 3.3 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon emissions).

We launched our Recycle Now campaign, which was taken up by 60% local authorities in its first year. The campaign helped UK households increase their recycling rate from 11% in 2000 to 44% in England and 63% in Wales by 2019.