Food Industry needs to tackle emissions

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has released a report analysing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to the UK’s food and drink industry ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

The report from WRAP, states that there is drastic need to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the food industry if the UK is expected to reach Net Zero ambitions set out by the Government for 2050. WRAP's report also places responsibility on the consumer, it is now more important than ever that consumers consider the 'global footprint' of the produce we are purchasing in supermarkets, in order to reduce domestic emissions at the costs of increasing emissions elsewhere in the world.

The food industry is currently a huge contributor the the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the UK. Currently 35% of the UK GHG are from our food and drink. The data shows that stakeholders who collectively make up the food and drink sector will have a crucial role in achieving the 50% reduction in food related GHG emissions intended by 2030.

WRAP's report summarises key areas which are crucial for the UK to achieve their intended GHG emissions goal within the required timeframe. Food waste is one of the largest impacting areas of GHG emissions on the UK and action is needed in order to reduce the countries footprint.  Cawleys are employing the latest technologies to ensure food waste is put to the best possible use. Offering Anaerobic Digestion as a service which see's potential landfill waste being converted into reusable energy often sent back to the grid, the benefits of the process are just one of the many way's Cawleys are working to achieve the Net zero ambitions of the country.

WRAP also state deforestation as one of the biggest factors in terms of reducing emissions. From 2001 to 2020 the United Kingdom lost 481kha of tree cover, equivalent to a 13% decrease in tree cover since 2000.  Forests are crucial in the reduction of GHG, Forests store huge levels of carbon. This is captured from carbon dioxide ( a major greenhouse gas) in the air and and then is turned into the structure of the tree.  Cawleys have teamed up with Marston Vale to help fight the deforestation issue. Cawleys scheme will plant trees at the Forest of Marston Vale which is working towards 30% tree cover, the equivalent of planting another 5 million trees to help fight the climate crisis we are facing.

For more information on the WRAP Report and as to how we can help achieve our Net Zero emissions goal by 2050 see here : https://wrap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-10/WRAP-Pathway-2030-Delivering-a-50%25-reduction-in-the-GHG-footprint-of-UK-food-and-drink-summary-report_0.pdf .