While the US grocery industry is slowly turning to the topic of food waste–huzzah!–their British counterparts are already a year into a voluntary agreement to trim waste.
More than 50 UK grocery retailers have signed on to The Courtauld Commitment Phase 2, which sets many waste reduction goals. Food is one of them. Interestingly, the food waste goal focuses on homes: reduce home food and drink waste by 4% from 2009 to 2012.
You might be wondering: What does that have to do with grocers? That’s the best part–UK supermarkets have taken some responsibility for their role in prompting home food waste. As a result, many grocers have launched campaigns to preach the food waste reduction gospel to their customers.
And so…there has been a 3% reduction in home food waste, according to WRAP. They are on schedule to meet the 2012 goal. Even more impressive, though, are the numbers in comparing 2006/7 with 2010. In that time, household food waste dropped 13% and “avoidable” waste decreased by 18%.
That represents a saving of millions in cash and CO2 equivalent tonnes. Once more–Huzzah!
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[…] same approach has been adopted in the UK with great success. Approximately 50 UK grocery chains have signed onto the Courtlauld Commitment Phase 2. This agreement sets a variety […]
[…] Did you toss out a partial box of stale cereal? Purchase a smaller box or find a more airtight way to store it next time. Are you seeing a lot of tossed out leftover food? Either prepare a smaller quantity next time or make a concerted effort to eat the rest in the few days following the meal. Check out how the United Kingdom is already way ahead of the United States when it comes to reducing food waste. […]