The Government has published its response to the Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Eighth Report of Session 2016-17 on food waste in England.
As it is estimated that 10 million tonnes of food and drink are wasted each year in the UK – around 70% from households and 30% from other sources, the Government has confirmed that is has large-scale interventions in place to promote reductions in food waste by households and businesses.
It has made a significant progress through the Courtauld Commitment, a voluntary agreement with retailers and food manufacturers and the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, which gives consumers advice and tips in reducing food waste at home. Between 2007 and 2015, these helped reduce food waste by 11% saving people and businesses around £3 billion a year without the additional burdens of regulation.
Defra has put in place framework to make further reductions. Courtauld 2025 was launched in March 2016. This ambitious voluntary agreement brings together organisations across the food system – from producer to consumer – to make food and drink production and consumption more sustainable.
This agreement includes a target to reduce total waste by 20% across the whole of the supply chain. Analysis by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) indicates that this reduction would deliver an estimated £20 billion in savings to the UK economy, including £4 billion savings to businesses – the majority of savings would benefit householders.
Source: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee