Food and Drink Producers Slashing CO2 Emissions by a 1/3

Members of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) have reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by 35% – way ahead of the original target date of 2020.

A report published today shows that the target was reached against the 1990 baseline, with emissions falling by 664,000 tonnes of CO2*.

The FDF Five-fold Environmental Ambition progress report details major improvements in sustainability performance in food and drink manufacturing operations since 2007.

In addition to achieving the CO2 target, the industry has reduced water use by 15.6% and delivered an impressive 4.5% reduction in the carbon impact of packaging against the 2015 zero increase target of the WRAP Courtauld Commitment.

On waste, FDF members have reduced food and packaging waste sent to landfill to just 3% and are now focusing on further reducing mixed waste to reach the zero waste to landfill target by the end of this year.

Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said:

“This report showcases that economic growth and success need not be at the expense of environmental ambitions. For FDF members, producing more with less isn’t a series of buzz words, it’s an opportunity to increase efficiency and competitiveness. These are real achievements and it’s encouraging to see that FDF remains committed to working with its partners across the supply chain to face the environmental and economic challenges of the future.”

Jim Moseley, Interim Director General, FDF, said:

“Through the FDF Five-fold Environmental Ambition food and drink manufacturers are publically committed to working together to target environmental areas where they can make the biggest difference. Our significant achievement of an absolute reduction of 35% in CO2 emissions is a result of continued focus on energy efficiency and low carbon innovation by members and proof that this collective approach is working.

“This focus and drive to raise our collective environmental performance remains at the heart of the Five-fold Environmental Ambition and we will continue working together to improve resource efficiency, including revising our emissions target over the coming months.”

* Since the launch of the Five-fold Environmental Ambition in 2007, absolute emissions have fallen by 664,000 tonnes of CO2   – equivalent to the annual emissions arising from around 200,000 average homes in the UK.