Resources

Protecting critical water resources for food supply, for nature and for local communities.

There has never been a better time for forward thinking businesses to get ahead of regulation. There is a business imperative to collaborate, innovate and find ways to create both impact and commercial opportunity. The challenge is to go beyond targets by delivering practical changes that go beyond ‘greenwash’.

Total UK food & drink consumption footprint and pathway to a 50% reduction by 2030. 

New research shows:

• How food system greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have changed from 2015 to 2019.
• Where GHG emissions ‘hotspots’ remain in the UK food system (including in supply chains overseas).
• Priority areas for action in the short term to help achieve the targeted reduction by 2030.

Highlighting progress made in the third year of the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap:

• 251,000 tonnes of food worth £365 million saved from waste.
• 670,000 tonnes of GHG emissions potentially avoided.
• 145 million meals redistributed.
• Major opportunities for greater impact remain – industry action focused on Hospitality and Food Service sector and whole chain collaboration.

“simple low cost changes can have a big impact”

'Waste is a problem throughout the whole food supply chain. That's why Waitrose are engaging with our suppliers to reduce food waste in the supply chain.'

Food waste is an end-to-end challenge that requires end-to-end solutions. WRAP and IGD are inviting businesses to participate in whole chain food waste reduction plans (WCPs) – working together across the supply chain to take joint actions that reduce farm to fork food waste.

WRAP works with governments, businesses and citizens to create a world in which resources are used sustainably. Read our April 2020-21 annual review to learn more about our mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.

In June 2020, 40 key stakeholders from across the UK meat production and supply chain came together, facilitated by WRAP's Courtauld Commitment, to pledge to make the UK meat industry one of the most efficient and sustainable in the world. This summary highlights the areas of significant progress made and the areas that require greater focus.

Enabling effective decisions for tackling food surplus and waste on farm.

At an industry level, food surplus and waste on-farms across the UK is estimated at 3.6 million tonnes and worth £1.2 billion. This project has extended that assessment to provide an estimate of the financial implications for individuals farms of acting on food surplus and waste.

Exploring how farmers can be supported to collaborate in measuring food surplus and waste and identifying production efficiencies.

Please note that for the most recent data on the financial cost and GHG emissions of household food waste in the UK  please refer to Household Food and Drink Waste in the United Kingdom 2021-22.

Returning to normality after Covid-19: Food waste attitudes and behaviours in 2021.