Cardiff Council Signs Up To UK-Wide Commitment To Tackle Food Waste

City of Cardiff Council has signed up to a 10-year commitment designed to reduce food waste. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Courtauld 2025 scheme aims to make food and drink production and consumption more sustainable and is run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), a government backed agency tasked with reducing waste. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A City of Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “This commitment is unique because for the first time it brings together different organisations from across the food system, both producers and consumers, and requires all signatories to commit themselves to reducing the environmental impact of food and drink. As a Council we will be actively encouraging residents to reduce food waste and we will only be using suppliers who are committed to saving resources.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is estimated that by 2050 there will be an extra 2 billion people to feed globally and also by that date food supply could contribute 2oC to global warming. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Director of Sustainable Food Systems at WRAP, Richard Swannell said: “Courtauld 2025 is our most ambitious agreement yet and we are delighted that City of Cardiff Council has pledged their support as a signatory. We are faced with some big challenges ahead with rising populations, climate change and dwindling resources. But tackling food waste offers a practical option to address these challenges and in doing so, will create new opportunities. Only by working together can we hope to realise the big changes that are essential to ensuring a more prosperous future for individuals, businesses and the planet.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All the major UK retailers, representing 93% of the UK food retail market, have also signed up to the Courtauld Commitment 2025. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​