WRAP celebrates end of UK packaging growth

Packaging growth has ended in the UK grocery industry, despite sharp growth in sales, according to the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

WRAP attributed the success directly to the Courtauld Commitment, the voluntary agreement between industry, government and devolved administrations to significantly cut household and commercial waste.

The industry was now in a good position to meet 2010 targets to reduce packaging waste. The achievement was announced at a summit involving 32 retailers and grocery brands, including the latest Courtauld Commitment signatories Procter & Gamble and Weetabix.

Delegates at the convention discussed issues ranging from how to measure the carbon impact of packaging and how to encourage increased recycled content in packaging.

WRAP renewed calls on the industry to help achieve its objective of a 155,000t reduction in household food waste at the event. Possible actions could include a wider range of portion sizes, more extensive storage advice and clarity on date labelling.

“It’s great news that the industry has met the Courtauld target to halt packaging growth, and that we are now on track to cut food and packaging waste by 2010,” said Melanie Leech, director general of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF). “Together with our member signatories FDF looks forward to continuing to work with WRAP both to deliver the 2010 objective as well as on possible options for moving forward beyond this.”

The FDF’s Five-fold Environmental Ambition included the pledge for signatories to commit to WRAP’s waste reduction strategy and eliminate industry waste to landfill by 2015.

WRAP chief executive Liz Goodwin said: “WRAP is delighted that the grocery sector has responded positively to the challenge of tackling packaging and food waste. Their achievement in ending packaging growth is an impressive one, particularly against the backdrop of unexpectedly high grocery sales and population growth.”