Water shortages threaten food firms in south east England
Food manufacturers in the south east of England could be forced to relocate to other parts of the country or even overseas to remain competitive if tougher targets for water reduction translate into higher charges than elsewhere.
The targets planned for reducing their water consumption across the sector are contained in the government’s Food Industry Sustainability Strategy (FISS), which is due to be published shortly. They are expected to be higher for the south east because of increasing supply shortages in the region than elsewhere.
The FISS, which will establish priorities for a sustainable food industry, spreading awareness and best practice on all areas of its environmental impact, will set targets for manufacturers in the south east to reduce their water consumption by 20 to 25% by 2020, compared to reductions of 10 to 15% elsewhere in the country.
“It is not just an aspirational document - we are hoping to see some progress,” said Dr Andrew Dunn, from the food and drink industry division at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs speaking at the Food Environmental Efficiency Day (FEED), last week. FEED was organised by Envirowise, the government body which offers advice to business.
The FISS was drawn up last year and redrafted in October before being cleared by DEFRA last month. It is currently seeking cross-departmental approval and should be published soon, said Dunn.
Action was necessary because the food industry uses 14% of all energy consumed by UK business, 10% of water and generates 10% of all industrial and commercial waste. It also contributes 25% of HGV vehicles kilometres travelled in the UK, he said.
While recognising the importance of the food sector to the nation, DEFRA is seeking the close involvement of the industry in finding ways of reducing its environmental impact in all these areas. Other targets include reducing carbon emissions from 1990 levels by 20% by 2010 and cutting waste - processing, packaging and household food/packaging - by 15-20% by 2010.
Food transport poses one of the biggest obstacles, however. “We face a large challenge here,” Dunn acknowledged. A report produced last year by AEA Technology for DEFRA showed food transport cost the nation £9bn a year in road tax and congestion. The target is to reduce the domestic environmental impact levels by 20% by 2012.
