Waste Reduction
Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill is a priority for FDF. In
particular FDF's Five-fold Environmental Ambition includes an aspiration for
FDF
members
to send zero food and packaging waste from their sites to landfill by the latest 2015.
FDF members are also committed to making a significant contribution to WRAP's
Courtauld 2 target of reducing product and packaging waste in the supply chain by
5% by end of 2012 against a 2009 baseline.
Our 'waste' ambition reflects FDF's support for the waste hierarchy which places
prevention first and disposal such as landfill last. It also reflects the fact
that sending food and packaging waste to landfill not only wastes the resources
used in their production but also adds to total greenhouse gas emissions through
decomposition. Even though most food waste is generated by households rather
than manufacturers, FDF members recognise the need to lead by example in their own
operations.
In 2008 FDF and Defra published the results of the first ever survey of food and
packaging waste arising at FDF members' UK production sites in 2006. This was
followed in 2010 by a second survey covering data for 2008 and 2009.
The 2010 report provides an updated snapshot of the amount and geographic
distribution of food and packaging waste arising across FDF member sites, along with
how this is being managed. Data gathered for both 2008 and 2009 was also compared
to the 2006 data where feasible.
The report findings demonstrate beyond doubt that FDF is on track to meet its
zero waste ambition. Of the 481,000 tonnes of food and packaging waste produced at
149 sites of FDF members in 2009, 435,000 tonnes (over 90%) was recovered or
recycled with only 43,000 tonnes (9%) sent to landfill – a significant improvement
on data from previous years (16.5% was sent to landfill in 2006 and 12.5% in
2008).
WRAP's First Year Progress Report for Courtauld 2, published in December 2011
and covering achievements between 2009(baseline) and 2010, shows that there has
been a 0.4% (10,000 tonnes) absolute reduction in the amount of supply chain waste
arisings across all signatories, 1.1% when adjusted for changes in sales
volumes.
The progress recorded by FDF member company signatories providing data for this
period equates to an absolute reduction of 6.9% in supply chain waste arisings
and 3.1% when changes in sales volumes are taken into account. These figures show
that whilst progress overall against the supply chain waste target has been
relatively modest, FDF signatory companies appear to be performing well against the
target. The WRAP analysis of waste arisings also shows that the largest
reduction has come from a marked shift away from landfill and other disposal options.
This is further evidence of the progress being made against our zero waste to
landfill target.
A report on 'Opportunities for resource efficiency in the food and drink sector' based on the findings of the waste prevention reviews conducted by WRAP in 2009
at selected sites of 13 FDF member companies has recently been published.
We are continuing to work with WRAP on support for FDF members and their supply
chains in identifying ways of reducing waste from the outset – the first stage
in the waste hierarchy.
FDF encourages its members to work with food charities, such as FareShare, to
redistribute surplus quality food to disadvantaged people, and help prevent
perfectly edible food from becoming waste.
Where waste cannot be prevented, FDF members are generally reliant upon national
waste infrastructure to divert food and packaging waste to recycling and
recovery and away from landfill. However national capacity for alternatives, such as
anaerobic digestion, is currently relatively low and not always easily accessible
by food and drink companies.
To help improve this FDF has worked with the National Industrial Symbiosis
Programme (NISP) on a web based enquiry tool which seeks match members' organic waste
arisings with available treatment capacity. This tool is available on the on the NISP website. We will also continue to work with WRAP and other partners to promote the
development of anaerobic digestion in line with the needs of the food and drink
industry, as part of the Government's Strategy and Action Plan published in Summer
2011.
More Information
Last reviewed: 07 Dec 2011