Catering industry pledges to cut food and packaging waste

Food & packaging: It’s a wrap!

WRAP’s Hospitality and Food Service Agreement, the voluntary pledge to support the sector in working together to reduce food and associated packaging waste and increase recycling rates has been making national and trade press headlines this week, including in the Guardian.

Remember, we’re throwing out a whopping 600,000 tonnes of food waste from restaurants every year, most of it filling up scarce landfill space. That’s the equivalent of three double decker buses for every restaurant! And it’s costing us. The aim of the agreement is to help deliver substantial environmental benefits as well as cost savings. 

In the development of the Voluntary Agreement WRAP has worked closely with organisations across the sector, including the SRA, to agree two targets:

1. Prevention target: to reduce food and associated packaging waste arising by 5% by the end of 2015 against a 2012 baseline.

2. Waste management target: Increase the overall rate of food and packaging waste being recycled, sent to anaerobic digestion (AD) or composted to at least 70% by the end of 2015.

The targets are owned by WRAP and will be collectively delivered by signatories, with WRAP’s support. Working with us towards these targets will:

· help your bottom line by reducing your waste and using fewer resources;

· improve your competitiveness in tough economic times;

· meet your customers’ expectations to reduce waste and recycle more;

· demonstrate that you take a responsible approach to managing your waste.

Join the growing number of SRA Members signing up. We’re backing the agreement and will give you our backing to help meet the targets. 

Visit the website to download a signatory pack.

If you would like to find out more please contact Brendan Hunter from WRAP on 07540 513407 or at brendan.hunter@wrap.org.uk.