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What the retailers are doing to reduce packaging

Packaging is important in keeping products fresh and safe from production to the consumer. However many products are over-packaged. WRAP and the major UK grocery organisations recognised this and took action.

Over 30 retailers, brands and suppliers who represent 92% of the UK grocery sector signed the Courtauld Commitment. This commitment aims to find new ways of reducing packaging and food waste across the whole supply chain.

The agreement asks for signatories to support WRAP in the achievements of its objectives:

  • To design out packaging waste growth by 2008 (achieved: zero growth)
  • To deliver absolute reductions in packaging waste by 2010; and
  • To identify ways to tackle the problem of food waste.

The Courtauld Commitment is a powerful vehicle for change, since the beginning of the agreement in 2005, the signatories have successfully slowed the growth of packaging leading to zero growth in packaging during 2008 despite an increase in sales and population.

Signatories also actively support the Love Food Hate Waste campaign.