Courtauld 2 requires better UK recycling infrastructure

The government must overhaul waste handling guidance and help strengthen the UK network of waste treatment facilities to ensure food processors meet phase two targets for the eco-friendly Courtauld Commitment scheme.

Courtauld aims to cut UK food packaging waste, was launched in 2005, and attracted more than 40 retail and manufacturing signatories. Already 28 companies have signed up to phase two.

“One of the key issues is undoubtedly the need for better and more coordinated waste and recycling infrastructure in the UK,” said Andrew Kuyk, director of sustainability and competitiveness at the Food and Drink Federation. “This is primarily a responsibility for local authorities and central government and its agencies.
“Food manufacturers are doing their best to work with what is available and where appropriate to cooperate with each other and help identify where more provision is needed.”
Chris Dow, md of waste treatment firm Closed Loop Recycling, said: “We very much welcome the latest Courtauld Commitment 2 targets, which rightly go beyond simple weight-based targets for waste reduction.”
However, he said to maintain those gains and achieve the new targets groups such as DEFRA [the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] and the Environment Agency had to “seriously reform outdated systems such as Packaging Recovery Notes to ensure the industry continues to attract the investment in the infrastructure needed”
Dow also called for a “three-way commitment from big brands and retailers to increasingly use recycled content in their packaging”. And he asked for “local authorities to ensure consumer-friendly kerbside collection of waste”
Courtauld 2 targets​
As predicted in Food Manufacture​’s February issue​, the government-funded Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) announced three 2012 targets for phase two of the Courtauld Commitment.
The targets are based on 2009 data. They are: a 10% reduction from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from grocery packaging; a 4% reduction in UK household food and drink wastes; and a 5% reduction in traditional solid and liquid grocery product and packaging waste.
Response from processors​
Responding to the announcement of Courtauld 2, Roger White, chief executive of soft drinks firm AG Barr, said: “We are delighted to be the first new Scottish company to sign up to this important agreement and we are committed to the development of a broad range of initiatives aimed at minimising our ongoing use of packaging resources.”
Adam Grant, md of Danone Waters UK, said: “Since 1999, we have achieved a 20% reduction in the amount of plastic in our Volvic bottles and our 100cl bottle currently includes 25% rPET [recycled polyethylene terephthalate] - a figure we’re continually striving to increase.”
Dairy UK environment manager Fergus McReynolds said dairy firms such as Arla, Dairy Crest and Robert Wiseman were leading the way on packaging waste reduction: “By the end of this year, 10% of the plastic in milk bottles will come from recycled materials and by 2012 the industry may well be well on the way towards hitting a 30% target.”