Household food waste threatens UK net zero target, WRAP says

WRAP has warned the UK that unless they halve global food waste it will make it ‘much more difficult’ to meet net zero goals.

The latest data from global environmental action NGO, WRAP, shows that household food waste decreased by 9% between 2021 to 2022.

WRAP says the data shows that, while it is possible to significantly reduce widescale household food waste in a short space of time, the UK is not on track to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to halve global food waste.

The reduction in food waste between 2021 to 2022 was primarily caused by COVID-19 restrictions and rising food prices, particularly up to December 2022 when food prices increased by approximately 17%.

WRAP says that the magnitude of the drivers, a pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis, show the scale of interventions required to see further reductions.

For household food waste to meet the international targets, it must fall by 36% by 2030, the climate action NGO says.

This is a wakeup call that we all need to act.

Catherine David, WRAP CEO, said: “While collaboration through WRAP’s UK Food and Drink Pact has propelled the UK in the field of food waste prevention, it took the end of a pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis to get faster impact.

“This is a wakeup call that we all need to act: here in the UK to meet our targets, and through global co-ordination to share expertise and ensure this crucial area is a higher priority and is adequately funded.”

WRAP’s new report shows that across the UK, the amount of food waste in household food waste collections was 17% of the total – 83% of food waste is still found in the residual waste stream, and incinerated or sent to landfill.

WRAP recently announced a new partnership with Tesco during London Climate Action Week with a call to businesses and governments to act urgently to reduce global food loss and waste.

Waste Minister Mary Creagh commented: “A reduction in food waste is welcome, and we are clear further swift action is needed across the supply chain and in households to stop perfectly good food from being chucked away.

“We are moving to a circular economy, where we make the best use of the resources we have as possible, and will continue to work with food businesses, producers and charities to drive down food waste.

“This includes supporting more good food being redistributed through our new £15 million farm surplus fund and put on the plates of those in need.”