UK Government Praises Food and Grocery Industry for Reducing Waste

Defra Minister Dan Norris will speak at the IGD Packaging and Product Resource Efficiency conference, for the first time since taking up the role, to talk about the Government’s new packaging strategy.

07 Oct 2009 --- Dan Norris, DEFRA Minister responsible for waste policy, has praised the food and grocery industry ahead of this year’s IGD Packaging and Product Resource Efficiency conference, 22 October 2009. Mr Norris will be taking the stage at the event, for the first time since taking up the role, to talk about the Government’s new packaging strategy.

Dan Norris comments: “Government welcomes the work that the food and grocery industry are doing to improve their resource efficiency.

He went on to say: "The Government's new packaging strategy sets out how we will support businesses to become more resource efficient - through new and existing voluntary agreements, the use of eco design principles and standards, and the range of free advice that is available to businesses."

Delegates will hear from retailers, manufacturers, WRAP and other organisations on current packaging and product resource efficiency issues.

Joanne Denney-Finch, Chief Executive, IGD says: "Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of packaging, so it's important for our industry to continue to work together to reduce waste and increase efficiency."

Earlier this month IGD released figures from their latest consumer research showing that 55% of shoppers would like to know more about the environmental impact of food and grocery products and 37% of shoppers think that re-sealable packaging would help to reduce the amount of food they throw away, eight per cent higher than in 2007.