UK Food and Drink Pact
The UK Food and Drink Pact (formerly the Courtauld commitment 2030) is a voluntary agreement that brings together organisations from across the food system with a commitment to develop solutions and implement changes to cut carbon, water, and waste associated with food and drink against a range of targets.
Uniting nearly 200 organisations across the food and drink supply chain, as well as trade bodies, local authorities and charities, the UK Food and Drink Pact, led by WRAP, is building a circular food system to protect the planet and future-proof our food businesses from farm to fork
Food Waste Reduction Roadmap
According to WRAP nearly one quarter of the food produced in the UK is lost or wasted every year – including over 6.4 million tonnes of perfectly good, edible food worth over £21 billion. That’s enough to feed the entire UK population 3 meals a day for nearly 3 months[1].
Not only is edible food ending up in the bin, but both our planet and businesses’ resources are going with it. Food waste is costing businesses money and contributing to climate change, accounting for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, part of the UK Food and Drink Pact, is a structured pathway to tackle this challenge. It enables organisations across the food supply chain to set targets, measure progress and take action[1].
Over 400 organisations have committed to the Roadmap, from major retailers and manufacturers to hospitality and trade associations. Retailers signed up to the Roadmap, account for 97% of the market, and prevented 19,000 tonnes of food from going to waste in 2022, the equivalent of £62 million worth of food saved.
Through the UK Food and Drink Pact’s Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, the aim is to drive action to halve food waste per capita by 2030.
This ambition forms an important contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, helping to reduce food loss in production and prevent food waste at retail and households levels.
Other intiatives led by WRAP include the 'Food Waste Action Week' and the 'Love Food Hate Waste' campaigns.
Targets
Food Waste
Members of the UK Food and Drink Pact voluntarily commit to ambitious goals, led by WRAP.
By 2030, the aim is to:
- Reduce food waste by 50% per capita
- Halve greenhouse gas emissions arising from the food and drink system
- Ensure that half of all fresh food is sourced from areas with sustainable water management.
These targets align with global ambitions, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, ensuring that together, we shape a future where food systems support rather than deplete the planet.
Sustainable Water Use
- Achieve sustainable water management in the 20 most at-risk UK and global sourcing areas, improving water security at a catchment scale
- Ensure 50% of fresh food is sourced from areas with sustainable water management, delivering on the UK Food and Drink Pact’s water target.
Water Roadmap
Water is the lifeline for our food system. Worldwide, 72% of freshwater is used in agriculture. But freshwater availability is under threat due to unsustainable water use and other factors like climate change[2].
The Water Roadmap, part of the UK Food and Drink Pact, is a structured pathway to tackle this challenge. It equips organisations in the food and drink industry with the knowledge to take action against this escalating crisis in their supply chains. The Roadmap also connects key players in the water sector to protect the water we rely on for food, nature, and the communities connected to our farms.
Over 100 organisations have already committed to the UK Food and Drink Pact’s Water Roadmap, working together to improve water quality, availability and resilience in the world’s most critical fresh food sourcing regions.
References:
- Food Waste Reduction Roadmap
- The Water Roadmap
