Resources

WRAP is working in partnership with industry to develop a viable process to improve the identification and sorting of post-consumer packaging (including PET, HDPE and PP) suitable for food-grade application. The phases below provide an update on the progress made so far and the remaining challenges. For the latest report (2016) looking at fluorescent markers, see Phase 6.

Supporting the findings in the Healthy Sustainable Eating and Food Waste research, workshops were run with two community groups to explore food consumption and food waste generation in lower income groups.

This report reviews the available evidence of the effects of plastic packaging in helping to reduce the amount of fresh produce thrown away in the home to inform discussions on providing uncut fresh fruit and vegetables loose/plastic-free in store.

New report by WRAP uncovers the scale of the milk waste across the supply chain and highlights the ways we can significantly reduce thousands of tonnes of milk waste worth more than £150Million.

Tamar Water Stewardship Business Board for Cornwall and Devon

Businesses are working at a catchment level in Devon & Cornwall through a business board initially chaired by South West Water (SWW). The Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) is providing technical support to the business board and BITC, due to their experience in catchment management, local project delivery and ability to connect the board to the Tamar Catchment Partnership.

BITC is engaging businesses with suppliers based within Devon and Cornwall and using the Tamar catchment as an initial exemplar, with a view to expand this across the region in due course.

The Wye is one of the most significant and important rivers in the UK which is reflected in its EU designation as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). But the river and wider catchment are under significant pressure which are affecting the sustainability of the agriculture sector (soil loss & health) and the viability of the local economy (pollution impacting tourism and restricting development).

Spain is a major sourcing area for fresh produce and other commodities consumed in the UK, accounting for over 20% of our imports of fruit and vegetables. In a recent report published by The PRI and WWF, 12% of Spain’s cropland was found to be at high water risk, demonstrating that our reliance on Spanish products also exposes UK supply chains to some significant water risks.

It’s simple – reducing the amount of food your manufacturing business throws away makes sense. Food waste takes many forms, yet it all has a value.

Through consultation with industry it has been identified that many business working in the food supply chain understand the concept of getting more value from food waste or valorisation. These case study examples bring adding value to life.

A key area of focus for WRAP’s Courtauld Commitment 2025 is to identify the best ways to recover products from food waste with the remaining wastes still being recycled in the most appropriate way.

WRAP worked with COS, which is part of the H&M group, to run extended wash test trials on four different menswear Merino wool jumpers, in order to review and assess the optimal care instructions to maximise the garments’ life. 

Through regular analysis of its products’ returns data, New Look identified above average levels of returns on womenswear stretch jeans due to button attachment failure. WRAP worked with New Look to review the testing process of womenswear stretch jeans to help improve their performance, extending the life of these products.