WRAP publishes progress report on GHG emissions

The NFU worked closely with WRAP to develop the ‘Meat in a Net Zero World’ initiative, launched in June 2020, and along with other trade bodies, major retailers, meat processors, hospitality and food service companies, signed up to the programme and pledged to work together to reduce waste, improve productivity and cut emissions.

At the time of launching, WRAP estimated that more than 380,000 tonnes of meat, worth £3 billion, was wasted each year from production through to the consumer, measuring more than 4 million tonnes in CO2 equivalents. The inital report stated this waste must be prevented if we are to contribute to the UK’s target of a net zero economy by 2050, as well as the NFU’s net zero vision and other industry initiatives.

Since then, WRAP's progress report found that:

• 60% of business supporters have set net zero or science-based GHG reduction targets across the whole supply chain, including agricultural emissions.
• Retailers and processors have reported a significant and increasing amount of R&D activity being focused in priority areas, such as feed innovations.
• Meat processors reported a collective reduction in food waste of more than 20,000 tonnes – an average 30% reduction. 
• All businesses set a GHG reduction target and reported year-on-year improvements – up to 30% reduction in emissions intensity over the last year.
• All processors reported having water efficiency targets and year-on-year improvements –up to 15% reduction in intensity of water use.

However, the report also found that, as Covid restrictions eased, households food waste appears to be increasing. 

Karen Fisher, Head of Climate Action Strategy at WRAP, said: “Whilst the call to eat less meat is widely acknowledged, we recognise that there is still a role for meat produced to high welfare, climate and environmental standards in our diet. It is, therefore, critical that the industry works together towards these aims.