Efficient Consumer Response(ECR)UK,a forum led by IGD,has established a new waste prevention target for the food and grocery industry.The new target aims to prevent 200,000 tonnes of waste from being created by December 2014.
The new target builds upon the success of the 75,000 tonne target,which was set in 2010.Leading food and consumer goods companies have exceeded their 75,000 tonne target for waste prevention by 11,000 tonnes a year ahead a schedule,IGD said.
The forum will seek to reduce the amount of packaging,food and other product waste that goes to landfill,delivering a direct environmental benefit.
Currently,about 34 major UK food and grocery companies have committed to this target,reflecting engagement all along the supply chain to prevent waste between the factory in-gate and till.
This initiative,led by IGD's ECR UK Product and Packaging Waste Group,is co-chaired by Asda and Unilever.It encourages the consumer goods industry to work collaboratively to minimize waste,not only by preventing it from occurring,but also by diverting it from landfill or sewers.
The group encourages businesses,colleagues and trading partners to engage at all levels to eliminate waste in areas such as product and packaging design and range and forecasting decisions.
IGD and the group have developed the best practice,online tools and example case studies,which have been published on IGD's website,in order to share the knowledge with the wider industry.
IGD chief executive Joanne Denney-Finch said that in a tough trading environment and the planet's resources becoming scarcer,cutting waste and cost is more important than ever.
"IGD's ECR UK initiatives will continue to lead the way in spreading best practice and driving ambitious achievements in waste prevention,"Denney-Finch added.
IGD is a charity which seeks to use research and expertise to help people and businesses around the world to act positively on nutrition,skills,sustainability and employment delivering genuine public benefit.
ECR UK is a forum that brings together the supply chain directors of food retailers,manufacturers,wholesalers and food service operators to develop best practice and create a more efficient supply chain,focused on delivering benefits to consumers.
