More big food names sign up to Courtauld Commitment
Launched last spring, the voluntary agreement, run by the government-backed Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) attracted 28 companies.
New signatories
The number of signatories has now risen to 48 with the backing all the major grocery retailers in the UK and some of the biggest food and drink manufacturers operating in the country.
Explaining why the extra companies have only come on board now, a spokesperson for WRAP said: “Making the commitment to be part of Courtauld is a major step for many companies and it taken some longer than others to work through the timescales.
“We have been in close contact with these newer signatory companies for many months and the announcement last week included all those who have joined Courtauld since our last update in June 2010.”
Broader scope
The second phase of the Courtauld Commitment builds on part one, which ran from 2005 – 2009, and is broader in scope. It moves beyond solely weight-based targets to embrace goals that demand more sustainable use of resources over the entire product lifecycle.
Using 2009 data and working to a 2012 deadline, the agreement sets a target of reducing the carbon impact of grocery packaging by 10 per cent. This is to be achieved by employing a range of strategies related to weight reduction, recycling, and use of recycled content.
Other targets include a commitment to reduce household food and drink waste by 4 per cent and cut grocery product and packaging waste in the supply chain by 5 per cent.
Companies to join the Courtauld Commitment since July 2010 are:
• AB InBev UK
• Associated British Foods
• Cafédirect
• Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd
• Concha y Toro S.A.
• Cott Beverages
• Findus Group
• Kimberley Clark UK
• Kraft Foods UK
• Miller Brands (UK)
• Premier Foods
• P & G UK & Ireland
