SHADOW SECRETARY of State for Environment Mary Creagh has committed a future Labour government to a policy of zero food waste. This would bring England into line with Scotland, which last year introduced new legislation to work towards a zero waste society.
Creagh made the commitment whilst speaking at the annual Foodservice Packaging Association environment conference in Warwick.
Her comments come a day after the publication of a new report claimed that half of all food produced is wasted.
Creagh was also keen to emphasize the benefits of keeping waste in the UK, and highlighted the opportunity the waste sector has to create valuable markets and jobs.
Next month Labour is due to publish its waste and resources review paper.
Yesterday, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers published a report claiming that up to two billion tonnes of all food produced ends up as waste.
The study found that a number of factors are to blame, including inadequate infrastructure and storage facilities, overly strict sell-by dates, buy-one-get-one free offers and consumers demanding cosmetically perfect food.
