Courtauld Phase Two on Target but Work Still to Do

05 December 2011

The UK grocery retailers are significant progress towards meeting the waste and recycling targets set out in phase 2 of the Courtauld Commitment.

The Courtauld Commitment, launched in 2005, is aimed at improving resource efficiency and reducing the carbon and wider environmental impact of the grocery retail sector. Phase 2 follows the original commitment and moves away from solely weight-based targets.

According to the Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP), the results, which highlight achievements for the first year of phase 2 show that signatories are already half way to achieving the packaging reduction target, and three quarters of the way to reaching the household food waste objectives - two of the commitment's key objectives.

WRAP said that these results indicate a strong collective performance and the increase in volume sales among signatories. The challenge now is for businesses to build upon this early success, through the implementation of more waste prevention and resource efficiency measures.

However, a new area for the Courtauld Commitment and another of its key objectives, the supply chain impact, is significantly further from its goal at only 0.4% against a target of a 5% reduction.  WRAP said that this will be an area of additional focus going forward.

The grocery supply chain has performed well in diverting waste from landfill, with a 40% reduction over the reporting period - much of this waste has gone to renewable energy production using Anaerobic Digestion (AD). WRAP will be working closely with signatories to ensure that the supply chain and other targets are reached before the end of the Commitment.

Table contains Courtauld Commitment phase 2 progress:

Dr Richard Swannell, director, design & waste prevention at WRAP, said: "Phase 2 has focused on encouraging resource efficiency and reducing waste in the supply chain and the home. The latest phase 2 figures show good initial progress towards these by the signatories."

"The next step is to build on this good start, sharing best practice to encourage rapid change. This is particularly key around waste within the supply chain. We will continue to work with the sector to help ensure the Courtauld phase 2 targets are achieved," he added.

Phase 2 began in March 2010 and is due to complete in December 2012.

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