Food and Drink sector on course for 20% water savings
3rd October 2011
The Federation House Commitment (FHC), annual report launched today. The report highlights that water use not including that in the product itself, has reduced by an impressive 11.9% per tonne of product despite production at signatories sites rising by 7.5%.
The voluntary agreement helping manufacturers in the food and drink industry to improve their water efficiency is managed by resource efficiency agency WRAP and the Food & Drink Federation. The report also states that in 2010 FHC signatories only used 22.9 million m3 water in the manufacture of food and drink1 compared to 24.2 million m3 in 2007.
Dr Liz Goodwin, WRAP CEO, said: “These figures are a clear sign that the food and drink industry is making good steps towards achieving the ambitious target of a 20% water saving by 2020.
“It’s also encouraging to see the strong increase in signatories signing up to the agreement. The benefits of the voluntary approach are that the organisations involved secure corporate commitment to specific targets that are integrated into business strategies. Signatories also benefit from access to technical expertise and through peer working groups.”
Nick Bunker, Chair of FDF’s Sustainability Steering Group and President of Kraft Foods UK & Ireland, said: “I am delighted that strong progress to reduce our sector’s water use continues, three years since the launch of the FHC. However, we cannot rest on our laurels.
“Water scarcity is a growing risk that impacts upon everyone so I urge all food and drink manufacturers to sign up to this Commitment to improve water use efficiency and reduce the pressure on the UK’s water supplies.”
This excludes the water that can be found in the actual product.
WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. Working in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.
Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
