Food and drink industry in sustainability drive
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which includes Nestlé, Kraft, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola among its members, has set tough new environmental targets as part of a wider policy of embedding sustainable practice throughout the sector.
The industry body’s commitments include to a 35% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020, a 10% reduction in the carbon impact of packaging by 2012 and saving 80 million road miles by 2012. The reductions are set against figures from 1990, 2009 and 2010 respectively.
The FDF says it has exceeded its initial target of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2010. It adds that it is on track to meet or exceed previous commitments to reduce packaging and cut the environmental and social impact of transport by 20% by 2012.
The FDF claims the new commitments mark the industry’s efforts to put sustainability at the core of business strategy and shape the future of the sector.
“Companies are putting their heads above the parapet to talk to consumers and put a marker down for how they want to do business in the future,” according to FDF communications director Julian Hunt.
The FDF, which spelled out the commitments in its Five-Fold Environmental Ambition report, says it plans to develop a campaign to help consumers better understand the role of packaging and reduce its impact.
It is also collaborating with the British Retail Consortium, WRAP and IGD to produce a framework for different industries to work together.
Separately, brewing giants including Anheuser-Busch InBev, Carlsberg and Heineken have committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 17.5% over the next decade in a bid to make the industry more sustainable.
The target has been set by the British Beer and Pub Association in its Brewing Green/Our Commitment report.
