The new signatories - Britvic, Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Dairy Crest, Duchy Originals, Mars UK (formerly Masterfoods), McBride, Nestlé and Premier Foods - have all pledged to stop packaging waste growth by 2008, deliver packaging waste reductions by 2010 and identify ways to reduce the 6.7m tonnes of food waste the UK reportedly throws away annually. The companies, which have a joint turnover of over £9bn, join existing signatories Heinz, Unilever, Northern Foods and 13 top UK grocery retailers.
Welcoming the announcement, Melanie Leech, Food and Drink Federation director-general, said: “FDF members are working proactively with their food chain partners to minimise packaging, reduce food waste and increase recycling as a sustainability priority. I am delighted to see more of our members have now decided to support the Courtauld Commitment, joining Heinz and Unilever, which did so last year.”
The Courtauld Commitment's target is to reduce the 6.3m tonnes of packaging reaching UK homes each year by at least 340,000 tonnes by 2010. Alongside the latest announcement WRAP said a new method for measuring packaging waste reduction for signatories will be introduced, to facilitate consistent reporting and allow the group to track its collective impact.
Paul Moody, Britvic ceo, says: “Brtivic is delighted to be the first soft drinks company to sign the Courtauld Commitment with WRAP. WRAP's objectives clearly align with Britvic's packaging innovation strategy.”
Cadbury Schweppes corporate responsibility director Alex Cole adds: “We are committed to using 100% recoverable or biodegradable packaging by 2010 and to ensuring 100% of our secondary packaging is recyclable. We have set a target of 10% total reduction in packaging and 25% in seasonal/gifting.”
Nine top companies, including Britvic, Cadbury Schweppes, Masterfoods and Duchy Originals, have just signed up to the Courtauld Commitment packaging reduction agreement Top_names_sign
