The Courtauld Commitment: what it means for food manufacturing and sustainability

Every food manufacturer should know that they need to address sustainability in their plant. With damning reports on the state of climate change, every factory needs to contribute to protect our planet.

With government targets adding extra pressure and customers prioritising eco-friendly food purchases, creating and meeting environmental objectives is vital. By doing it effectively, you will win over customers and opportunities while showing yourself to be an ethical business. There are added benefits, such as reducing costs through better waste management and efficient processes.

The Courtauld Commitment is one of many developments that seek to push green goals in the food and drink industry and encourage plants to consider the impact of their production.

We explain the Courtauld Commitment in more detail and the implications for your production lines.

• What is the Courtauld Commitment?
• Why does the Courtauld Commitment matter?
• How to implement the Courtauld Commitment principles in your plant

What is the Courtauld Commitment?

The Courtauld Commitment is a series of voluntary agreements that endeavour to reduce the carbon emissions and other environmental impacts stemming from the UK food and drink sector, including manufacturers processing food and drink products.

It was designed by the charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) in 2005, with funding from the UK government and food sector leaders.

To date, there have been numerous phases of the Commitment. The current stage, the Courtauld Commitment 2030, aims to bring collaborative action across the whole food chain, including farms, food processors, retailers and the hospitality sector.

Many targets sit under the agreements associated with reductions in emissions, waste and water stress. Specific targets include:

• A 50% reduction in food waste per capita, covering manufacturing, retail, hospitality, food service and household by 2030
• A 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from food industries by 2030
• 50% of fresh food being sourced from areas with sustainable water management by 2030

Why does the Courtauld Commitment matter?

As we have already touched upon, sustainability is a central focus in today’s world, and this has seeped into the food manufacturing sector.

From farm to fork, food production is reported to generate 30% of the country’s total CO2 emissions. On top of this, the UK produced around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste in 2018, with 1.5 million coming directly from manufacturers.

Due to the sizeable impact of the sector, work needs to be done to minimise the effects – and doing so could play a significant role in reversing climate change.

With an increased focus on the environment, many customers are now prioritising sustainability in their purchasing decisions. This includes supermarkets, restaurants and other parts of the food chain that will choose to work with ethical partners.

By prioritising necessary actions, such as meeting the targets outlined by the Courtauld Commitment, you will prove yourself to be a green manufacturer and continue to win over sales and contracts while satisfying the rising desire for environmentally responsible food choices.

Many well-known companies have already signed the Commitment, including supermarkets and other food retailers, as well as the British Retail Consortium. By incorporating its principles into your factory, you could stand a better chance of winning contracts with such companies.

The Courtauld Commitment also coincides with government targets sped up last year. The target is now to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035, ultimately aiming to reach net zero.

Finally, many companies will also save money by reducing waste and water usage. Cost reduction can stem from several places, including better use of supplies, less energy use, reuse of waste materials and improved efficiency. When many factories are subject to a rise in costs, this could bring additional and much-desired benefits. 

How to implement the Courtauld Commitment principles in your plant

If you wish to introduce the Courtauld Commitment in your plant, there are many ways to do so. Similarly, if you want to advance your green goals and incorporate sustainability into your operations, the tips below will help. 

1. Having reliable machinery

Ensuring your production line comprises efficient machinery that is fit for purpose and compatible with your requirements is a prerequisite. An effective solution will drastically reduce the risk of waste through minimised product giveaway and end output that consistently meets expectations.

By installing reliable equipment into your plant, you will get the outcomes you want across your output, including higher quality food that does not need to be thrown away due to imperfections or reprocessed. This minimises energy use, water use and supply waste while improving productivity and cost management.

2. Utilise quality control

Quality control is an integral part of waste management throughout the production process. Utilising quality control throughout your line ensures you identify and eradicate issues ahead of time, including contamination or safety hazards.

By taking a proactive stance to inspection, you ensure quality throughout your output that reduces the risk of having to dispose of sub-par products or needing to reprocess faulty batches. You also benefit from improved customer safety and satisfaction.

Having a high standard of product reduces the likelihood of your customers having to throw away food at the end of the food chain. 

3. Identify sustainable processes

One of the most valuable things an individual plant can do to address its environmental impact is to find sustainable processes to utilise. These procedures rely on less energy or water, use renewable resources and contribute less waste.

Examples could include:

• Using equipment with reduced power consumption
• Recycling or reusing supplies where possible
• Effectively managing waste
• Switching supplies for regenerative or environmentally friendly resources
• Utilising renewable energy sources to power production
• Reducing the use of harmful chemicals or pollutants
• Minimising energy use, e.g. turning off equipment and electronics when not in use
• Running machinery for shorter periods or more efficiently

The processes you follow will vary depending on your plant and how you operate. However, your aim should be to minimise the specific consequences of your production – so spend time considering what these might be and what you can do to reduce them.

4. Train your staff

The mission to be more eco-friendly is a company-wide effort. Incorporating new processes and protocols is one thing, but you need to ensure your staff are on board.

Start by communicating any changes to employees and instilling your environmental targets. You also need to empower them to incorporate the appropriate action in their jobs. This means providing sufficient training and mentorship about how to conduct tasks correctly and aligned with your objectives.

5. Work with green partners

Sustainability measures are most substantial when they occur across the supply chain. By working with eco-friendly partners, you lower your contribution to climate change and prove you are abiding by your green values.

If more manufacturers choose to work only with ethical partners, it places pressure on other companies to adjust their operations. This leads to lasting and wide-scale change across industries.

Conclusion

One of the most pressing challenges facing manufacturing today is the need to meet environmental pledges. The Courtauld Commitment is just one of the schemes seeking to progress sustainability in the industry and have tangible results.

By embedding the principles of the Commitment, alongside other green goals, you will reduce the impact your plant has in the broader world. This helps you to build a favourable reputation and create new opportunities. The additional benefits are better cost management, reduced waste and improved efficiency.

At Yamato, we’re on our own mission to be greener and want to support other manufacturers in their journey too. We offer a wide range of solutions to reduce waste and minimise power consumption while still promoting excellent quality.

Get in touch with Yamato to find out about our solutions and how they can help.