New research published by WRAP shows that the reduction in annual UK household food waste between 2006/7 and 2010 was around 1.1 million tonnes (13%). The new estimate of 7.2 million tonnes annually, is equivalent to around a fifth of all food purchased being wasted.
Avoidable household food waste (i.e. food that could have been eaten) has reduced by 950,000 tonnes, or 18%, from 5.3 to 4.4 million tonnes annually. As food inflation over this period has been around 20%, although the amount we throw away is much lower (overall 4.4 mt vs 5.3 mt), it is still costing us about the same at an estimatede £12 billion.
The environmental impact of avoidable household food waste is now around 17 million tonnes of CO2e (equivalent to the emissions of 1 in 5 cars on UK roads) and 4% of the UK total water footprint. The savings associated with the reduction in avoidable food waste amount to around 3.6 million tonnes of CO2e a year, and almost a billion litres of water a year.
The report states that the reduction is due to:
- Rising food prices and reduced disposable incomes being triggers for many consumers to see how they could save money.
- The work of WRAP’s Love Food Hate Waste initiative, which is supported by Local Authorities and other partners and community groups, gives consumers the practical advice, tools and, importantly, confidence to realise these savings. This activity is also supported by signatories of the Courtauld Commitment voluntary agreement. And they are also making it easier for consumers in the retail environment to buy the right amounts of food and drink and to get the most from what they buy. For example through optimising pack sizes, clearer date labelling and storage guidance, maximising shelf life and innovative packaging.
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