WRAP, the industry sponsored association, that helps business reduce waste has announced its members' targets for waste reduction under an new agreement referrred to as the Courtauld Commitment 2. The new targets are a 10% reduction in carbon impact of grocery waste by 2013, a reduction in household waste of 4% by 2013 and a reduction in supply chain product and packaging waste of 5% by 2013. The new commitment was signed by 29 of the UK's largest retailers and suppliers. Others are expected to follow.
While any target is progress, but given the amount of waste that the food and grocery sector generates, are these targets enough?
One of the biggest issues facing the UK is waste and one of the industries that activiely promotes waste, and over purchasing, is the retail sector. The media constantly is reminded that a third of food purchased in the UK is wasted, yet many of the signatories to this agreement actively promote, by way of example, the multiple purchase of items at discounts that promote waste. How often are the vegetables advertised as "Buy two, get the third free", bought and the third item wasted? The retail sector would do well to lead in this area. Over packaging is one thing, over packaging wasted goods is quite another.
While WRAP continues to do some very good work, its progress, like so many organisations of this elk, is hampered by those that fund it. Retailers have a long way to go, they are moving too slowly right across the lifecycle and food chain of the products. If they wish to portray the moral high ground as most do, then like most moralists they should lead by greater example. What about a reduction in heating or cooling in shops or a redistrubion of what is sold to reduce food miles as part of the package? More needs to be done and the reductions should be bigger numbers.
