South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 17/03/2016

South Gloucestershire Council has been announced as a signatory of Courtauld 2025.

The Courtauld Commitment 2025 is an ambitious 10 year voluntary agreement that brings together organisations across the food system, from producer to consumer, to make food and drink production and consumption more sustainable.

The Courtauld Commitment 2025 aims to cut the resources needed to provide food and drink by one-fifth in 10 years, increasing value for everyone. It is the world–leading voluntary agreement to work along the entire food chain to reduce the environmental impact of our food and drink.

The targets for the Commitment from 2015 to 2025 are:
1)  A 20 per cent reduction in food and drink waste arising in the UK
2)  A 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas intensity of food and drink consumed in the UK
3)  A reduction in impact associated with water use in the supply chain.

Signatories of the agreement include all the major UK retailers; representing over 93 per cent of the 2016 UK market share and 23 local authorities, including South Gloucestershire Council. As a signatory South Gloucestershire Council will play a vital role in raising awareness of the importance of a more sustainable future for food and drink in the UK.

Communities Committee Chair Cllr Heather Goddard said: “We are proud to be a part of this pioneering commitment, which brings together organisations from across the food system for the first time, to make food and drink production and consumption more sustainable for the future. We need to find innovative ways to make best use of wastes and surpluses, and by working together everyone benefits.
“We are encouraging residents to continue to try to reduce their food waste. With this in mind, we are encouraging residents to continue to reduce their food waste by composting or recycling it. This not only helps the environment but will go some way towards helping us meet the requirements of the Courtauld 2025 Commitment.”

Richard Swannell, Director of Sustainable Food Systems, said: “Courtauld 2025 is our most ambitious agreement yet and we are delighted that South Gloucestershire 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.”

More information about Courtauld 2025 is available at www.wrap.org.uk/courtauld2025