Nine major suppliers have signed up to the Government-backed commitment to reducing packaging waste, which means they have to stop their waste increasing before 2008.
The list of new signatories reads like a who's who of fmcg - Britvic, Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Dairy Crest, Duchy Originals, Masterfoods, McBride, Nestle and Premier Foods. As well as stopping growth in waste production, they have pledged to deliver reductions in packaging waste by 2010 and "identify ways to reduce the 6.7 million tonnes of food waste we throw away each year". The companies join Heinz, Unilever, Northern Foods and the UK's top 13 grocery retailers, who all signed up earlier.
Melanie Leech, director general of the Food and Drink Federation, said: "FDF members are working proactively with their food chain partners to minimise packaging, reduce food waste and increase recycling."
Liz Goodwin, WRAP chief executive, added that over the coming months a national consumer campaign would be launched to "raise awareness of the food waste issue".
The so-called Courtauld Commitment is claimed to be the first time manufacturers and retailers have joined forces to reduce packaging.
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