Burton’s and Dairy Crest sign food waste agreement

19-Sep-2016 - Last updated on 22-Sep-2016 at 08:56 GMT

Burton's and Dairy Crest join food manufacturers signing the Courtauld Commitment

Burton’s Biscuit Company and Dairy Crest have joined a range of other food manufacturers, foodservice companies and retailers in signing up to the Courtauld Commitment 2025 food sustainability agreement.

Burtons and Dairy Crest were joined by World Group, Puffin Produce and Quorn together with 25 other new companies to sign up to the voluntary agreement to reduce food waste.

Up to 150 food and drink companies have signed up to the agreement launched by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in March this year.

WRAP is a government body that works to reduce food waste throughout the supply chain. Signatories to the Courtauld Commitment includes Unilever and Nestlé as well as retailers Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury.

Arla Foods UK – a founder signatory of the Courtauld Commitment – welcomed the greater reach of the campaign, which extended its influence to 95% of the UK’s food and drink market.

Tomas Pietrangeli, Arla Foods UK md, said the company had played a large role in construction of the Courtauld Commitment.

‘Leading and managing role’

“Arla Foods UK is proud to play a leading and managing role in the development of the Courtauld Commitment 2025 and to be collaborating with both WRAP and the important names in our sector,” said Pietrangeli.

Arla were also innvolved in the overall Courtauld steering group and co-chairs the Dairy Working Group.

Pietrangeli added: “We are well positioned to see first-hand the huge amounts of work that has already gone into the development and implementation of this agreement.”

The Courtauld Commitment aims to make production and consumption within the food and drink sector more sustainable through collaboration throughout the industry.

10-year goals

Its 10-year goals are: to reduce food and drink waste in the UK by 20%, a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity from food and drink consumed and a reduction in impact associated with water use in the supply chain.

WRAP’s head of sustainable food David Moon said: “Building connections right across the supply chain makes Courtauld 2025 a powerful voluntary agreement.

“We are delighted with the desire for action shown from such a range of signatories. Already we’ve set up a number of industry-led working groups that are meeting to address important issues.”

Courtauld Commitment 2025 – new signatories

Food manufacturers: Burton’s Biscuit Company, Dairy Crest, Produce World Group, Puffin Produce and Quorn (Marlow Foods).
Trade and sector organisations, government and academia: British Institute for Facilities Management (BIFM), Catering Equipment Suppliers Association, HCC – Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion, Wales), Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Association of Care Caterers (NACC) and The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and Soil Association.
Hospitality and food service: Compass, Nando’s Chickenland Ltd, and Subway Realty.
Retailers: Boots UK and Iceland Foods
Local authorities: City of Cardiff Council, Hampshire County Council, Project Integra – Hampshire’s Waste Partnership, Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, Monmouthshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and the Vale of the White Horse District Council.
Redistribution organisations and charities: FareShare, His Church, Neighbourly, The Real Junk Food Project and Transition Bro Gwaun.