CIEH Celebrates World Environmental Health Day and throws Support behind Food Waste Reduction Roadmap

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is celebrating World Environmental Health Day by throwing its support behind the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap launched this week by WRAP and IGD.

In order for the UK to achieve the national food waste reduction targets, under Courtauld 2025 and the United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 (SDG12.3) target, it is critical there is widespread adoption of Target, Measure, Act. An increasing number of businesses are adopting such an approach, but many more need to do so, across the whole food chain.

Launched this week, the new Food Waste Reduction Roadmap has seen the UK’s largest retailers, food producers and manufacturers, and hospitality and food service companies, committing to milestones to tackle food waste in the UK.

All have agreed to adopt the principles of Target, Measure, Act within their own operations, and to invite their suppliers to do the same, bringing consistency to measuring food waste, and increasing collaborative work to keep the UK on track in delivering on its targets.

The Food Waste Reduction Roadmap encompasses the entire supply chain from field to fork, with each business agreeing to:

• Target – Set a food waste reduction target for its own UK operations
• Measure – In a consistent way and share what they learn.
• Act – To reduce its own food waste, to work in partnership with suppliers and to help consumers reduce food waste.

The resources, developed through extensive consultation, will enable businesses to measure and report consistently and with confidence, and to take targeted action to reduce food waste in their own operations, in their supply chain, and from consumers.

Tony Lewis, Head of Policy at CIEH, said:

“We are delighted to be supporting WRAP and IGD’s new Food Waste Reduction Map, and see this ambitious plan as a perfect way to celebrate World Environmental Health Day.

There is a real need to get to grips with our UN targets, and it is fantastic to see the UK food industry united under a common approach to measure and report on food waste in this country.

Food waste management is nothing less than good business management and good food safety management too.

As such, we want to see as many businesses as possible sign up and get on board, so this unique opportunity can be seized with both hands.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

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About the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH):   

CIEH is the professional voice for environmental health representing more than 8,000 members working in the public, private and non-profit sectors. It ensures the highest standards of professional competence in its members, in the belief that through environmental health action people's health can be improved. 

Environmental health has an important and unique contribution to make to improving public health and reducing health inequalities. CIEH campaigns to ensure that government policy addresses the needs of communities and business in achieving and maintaining improvements to health and health protection.   

For more information visit www.cieh.org and follow the CIEH on Twitter.