Food waste is a financial and environmental issue, but the UK has made good progress with total food waste in the UK reducing by 14% per person between 2007 and 2015 (post-farm gate).

Household food waste accounts for around 70% of total food waste in the UK, and householders spend £15 billion every year on food that could have been eaten but ends up being thrown away.

Food waste prevention is one of the Waste and Resources Action Programme’s (WRAP) key priorities. Action to reduce levels of household food waste is being taken in two ways:

• through the Love Food Hate Waste consumer behaviour change campaign; and
• under WRAP’s voluntary agreement, the Courtauld Commitment 2025, which aims to cut the carbon and waste associated with food & drink by at least one fifth over a decade.

Courtauld 2025 will publish interim progress results in 2019 and 2022, and final results in 2026. Quantitative data is not, therefore, currently available in relation to progress made over the last 12 months.

Over the last 12 months, WRAP’s activities to reduce household food waste have been focused on two key areas: behavioural change interventions and national communications. WRAP has developed a set of behavioural change interventions and technical changes that can work in-store and at home, which focus on people buying what they need and using what they buy. WRAP has also been increasing awareness through mini-campaigns under Love Food Hate Waste. The latest mini-campaign, ‘Chill the Fridge Out’, launched on World Food Day (16 October).

Defra places a high value on the work WRAP delivers for the Department. WRAP has delivered an ambitious and highly regarded programme, and we are working closely with WRAP to ensure this programme continues.