15.05.13
‘Hidden’ food waste should be audited – TiR
The food industry should be required to audit its supply chains to cut down on waste, campaigners have urged.
This is Rubbish (TiR) has published a new report calling for more transparency in the system, to shift part of the blame from individual households.
The industry generates over half of the 18-20 million tonnes wasted in the UK each year. Counting What Matters highlights industry support for audits, despite concerns over who would bear the cost and the practicalities of implementing an audit system.
TiR co-director Caitlin Shepherd said: “We know the food industry has a big problem with waste, one that comes with significant environmental, social and economic costs. Despite this, food waste is not widely monitored or reported even among large businesses, meaning the problem stays largely hidden.”
British Retail Consortium director of food and sustainability, Andrew Opie, said: “Retailers already audit the food waste they're responsible for. They rely on the independent resource-efficiency body WRAP to co-ordinate industry-wide food waste reduction figures. Let's not distract from what will win us the greatest gains. That is getting consumers to think harder about what they waste.”
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