Supply Chain
The two largest sources of waste in the UK economy are:
- Construction, demolition and excavation waste at some 120 million tonnes per year (mt/y); and
- Retail and its supply chain (including wholesale, food and drink) at some 20 mt/y.
Improving the efficiency of resources used in these sectors and reducing waste is central to delivering a more sustainable economy as well as providing substantial commercial benefits.
The work of the Retail Team has expanded to now include waste in 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 points, how much packaging can be optimised and food and product waste reduced is being considered.
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:
Developing a robust data set for the Grocery and Home Improvement sector covering packaging, product and food waste at all points within the supply chain. Part of this project is identifying the opportunities and their priorities.
Waste prevention reviews developing sectoral good practice for the Food and Drink Federation. The approach being taken is to consider lean thinking resource efficiencies throughout the entire products' life - from the factory in-gate, through manufacture and back of store to final consumption by the consumer. The focus is on preventing waste, both packaging as well as food all the way through this chain.
Resource mapping research that quantifies food and packaging waste arisings throughout the retail and wholesale supply chain. The first ones will cover fresh fruit and vegetables and this will be followed by meat and fish. As part of this, the reasons for waste arising will be identified and good practice guidance will be developed and disseminated across the sector. Sector benchmarks will also be developed. For details click here.
International Packaging Technology Study - identifying technologies and systems that provide resource efficiency benefits such as waste, water and energy. The selected technologies or systems will be showcased on line. Find out more here.
