Resources

Transforming the food system is critical in the fight against climate change. We need to act now.

Reaffirming the critical role that the food system has to play in reducing GHG emissions both in the UK and overseas.

Share your views on the proposed refresh of the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap.

The objective of the project was to take a complex product such as a ready meal and conduct a detailed review of the current process flow and identify waste hotspots and opportunities for reduction.

To meet the Courtauld Commitment 2030 food waste target and UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, collaborative and concerted efforts to reduce food waste are required. Redistributing surplus food is one of the best ways that businesses can help to reduce the amount of food that ends up as waste.

The Resource Action Fund (RAF) was an £18 million fund, provided by Defra to support resource efficiency projects, with the goal of diverting, reducing, and better managing waste. The funding supported organisations in England which aimed to reduce waste and make better use of materials.

The research looked at: 

• If packaging extends the shelf life of fruit and vegetables;
• If selling items loose enables households to buy an appropriate amount for their needs; and
• How people make decisions about when to throw away fruit and vegetables, and what role does a ‘Best Before’ date have on these decisions.

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.