Retailers’ triumph on packaging commitment

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is hailing retailers’ 'spectacular achievement' in bringing the growth of food packaging to a standstill. 

An Independent assessment of the last two years, published by the Waste and Resources Action Program (WRAP), shows the total amount of packaging on food products sold in Britain is the same now as it was in 2006, despite substantial increases in the quantities being sold.

In 2005, WRAP the BRC and leading food retailers signed the ‘Courtauld Commitment’, in which they committed to a WRAP target to slow packaging growth to zero by the end of 2008. This has already been achieved despite the UK population rising by an average 300,000 people a year and food sales rising by 1.8 per cent a year over that time.  

Jane Milne, British Retail Consortium director of business environment, said: ‘This is a spectacular achievement by retailers. The UK population and total food sales have risen substantially in two years yet retailers are not using anymore packaging now than they were then. It’s clear evidence of the extent to which retailers have eliminated unnecessary packaging from own brand products. This demonstrates what can be achieved by voluntary measures, enabling retailers to find solutions that fit their business. The next big gain will be in securing the same change across the whole grocery supply chain.’ 

In April the BRC and a string of household-name retailers launched comprehensive new, industry-wide environmental commitments as the next stage of their response to climate change.  

They include a pledge, which goes beyond just food, to reduce own brand packaging by 2013 on a like-for-like basis, compared with 2005 and to work with suppliers to encourage similar reductions.

This demonstrates retailers’ commitment to achieving the Courtauld Commitment’s ultimate target which is to reduce total packaging to below 2006 levels.