FDF members reduce CO2 emissions by 35%, says report

Members of the UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF) have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 35% ahead of the original target set for 2020, a new report has revealed.

This progress was measured against a 1990 baseline and has now met the target set for 2020.

The FDF Five-fold Environmental Ambition progress report shows that the absolute emissions have fallen by 664,000t of CO2 since 2007. This improvement is equivalent to the annual emissions arising from around 200,000 average homes in the UK.

FDF interim director general Jim Moseley said: "Our significant achievement of an absolute reduction of 35% in CO2 emissions is a result of continued focus on energy efficiency and low carbon innovation by members and proof that this collective approach is working.

"This focus and drive to raise our collective environmental performance remains at the heart of the Five-fold Environmental Ambition and we will continue working together to improve resource efficiency, including revising our emissions target over the coming months."

The Five-fold Environmental Ambition tracks progress across five key areas such as CO2 reduction, water efficiency, food transport, food waste and packaging.

In addition, the industry has reduced water use by 15.6% and provided 4.5% reduction in the carbon impact of packaging against the 2015 zero increase target of the WRAP Courtauld Commitment, the report stated.

As the food and packaging waste reduces to 3%, the FDF members seek to reduce mixed waste to reach the zero waste to landfill target by the end of this year.

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Image: FDF members have delivered an absolute reduction of 35% in their emissions measured against a 1990 baseline. Photo: courtesy of dan/ freedigitalphotos.net.