Waste not want not - States Assembly

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Figure 14: Four Investment Measures to Reduce Waste (continued)
Measure Aims Rationale Estimated Cost Benefit/impact
3. Retailer initiative
Engaging the top 5
supermarket chains at a high
level to secure agreement to
reduce own brand packaging
and plastic film, introduce refillable
bottles and help
households reduce food
waste, for example through
improved labelling of sell
by/use by dates. WRAP will
draw up the strategy and take
the lead in its
implementation. WRAP
should also work with DEFRA
to ensure that existing
requirements placed on
retailers under the Packaging
Regulations are properly taken
into account.
● To reduce plastic bags,
own-brand packaging,
householder food
waste, plastic film
waste and to promote
the use of refillable
bottles;
● aim is to reduce
arisings by a total of
310,000 tonnes over
three years;
● in each of the following
years the aim is to
reduce arisings by
250,000 tonnes per
year.
● WRAP has established
that between 35-40%
of all household waste
which ultimately ends
up in landfill began its
life as a purchase from
one of the top 5
supermarket chains. 123
● The supermarkets link
massive supply chains
with households’
behaviour and are
therefore best-placed to
influence change.
It is difficult to assess the
costs at this stage. The
supermarkets will incur
costs in changing labels
etc. WRAP will require a
budget to run the
programme estimated to
be £12 million over 3
years.
The potential benefits of
this initiative are probably
greater than any of the
other waste minimisation
programmes in securing a
real reduction in
household waste over the
long term. Over the 3 year
period the programme
should have reduced
waste by over 300,000
tonnes. From 2005/6
onward the estimated
reduction is 250,000
tonnes, saving £11 million
a year.
123
Parfitt J. (2002)
86