In 2005, we got food waste on the agenda through the establishment of the Courtauld Commitment. Now known as the UK Food and Drink Pact, what started as a voluntary agreement to reduce food packaging waste has grown into a world-leading framework to tackle food waste, greenhouse gas emissions and water stress across the supply chain.
Since then, the initiative has adapted to meet the industry's biggest sustainability challenges, uniting businesses, governments and stakeholders to take bold, collective action. Now, the UK Food and Drink Pact continues to build on this legacy, bringing even greater ambition and collaboration to transform our food system.
Key phases and accomplishments
- 2005-2009: The Courtauld Commitment phase 1 laid the foundations for food system change and got food waste on the agenda. £1.8b worth of food and packaging waste was prevented, saving 3.3m tonnes of harmful emissions from entering our atmosphere – that's nearly 500,000 around-the-world flights.
- 2010-2012: The Courtauld Commitment phase 2 began to include secondary and tertiary packaging as well as supply chain food and packaging waste. 1.7m tonnes of waste was reduced, which had a value of £3.1b and 4.8m tonnes of harmful emissions.
- 2013-2015: The Courtauld Commitment phase 3 expanded to reduce weight and carbon emissions from household food waste and in food retail. Over 50 businesses saved more than £100m by reducing their food and packaging waste and notably increased food and drink redistribution.
- 2015-2025: The Courtauld Commitment phase 4 brought together more organisations than ever before to make food and drink production and consumption more sustainable.
- 2025-2030: The Courtauld Commitment was renamed the UK Food and Drink Pact, an evolution that unites the sector to collaborate and achieve net zero, tackle water risk, reduce food waste and drive circularity in our food system.