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Supply Chain

Research puts the costs associated with waste generated within the UK food and drink supply chain, and households, at an estimated £17 billion per year (£12 billion household and £5 billion supply chain).  Overall waste is 18.4 million tonnes per year (mt/y), of which 11.9 mt is household and 6.5 mt supply chain related.  Reducing waste would provide significant financial and environmental benefits and improve resource efficiency.

We are working to reduce waste at all points of the supply chain, as well as at a household level.  By supply chain we mean from the factory in-gate, through manufacture, distribution and to back of store at a retailer.  At all of these stages, we are seeing how much packaging can be optimised and food and product waste reduced.

The benefits of this work can include:

  • efficient distribution;
  • improved product availability;
  • packaging reduction;
  • improved utilisation of raw materials;
  • reduced product damage and waste;
  • enhanced brand values;
  • reduced carbon footprint; and
  • significant cost savings.

There are a number of key pieces of work that are being progressed as part of this work:

Lorry/transport
WRAP is helping to reduce waste within the UK grocery sector through the Courtauld Commitment and by working with the Food and Drink Federation, as well as directly with consumers.