British retailer The Co-op has committed to reducing food waste by calling on local authorities to accelerate the introduction of food waste collections from homes.

According to a UK charity and campaign body WRAP, around 1,000t of food waste ends up in landfill daily, which rots and produces methane gas.

It believes that the food waste can be composted, or used to create energy reducing greenhouse emissions.

“We are committed in helping our members and customers to make environmentally-friendly choices and reducing the environmental impact of products is and always has been at the core of Co-op.”

Co-op is also running a campaign with the hope of eliminating 1.75 billion single-use plastic bags, which can be replaced with compostable-friendly alternatives.

The retail chain is also planning to write a letter to all local authorities, who are not taking any initiative to collect food waste.

Co-op noted that 156 English councils do not have a kerbside food waste collection, and 12% of the 169 local authorities who collect food waste, do not accept compostable bags.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The retailer has already asked 20 of these local authorities to join the commitment. It believes the support from the authorities will help stop the production of an estimated 60 million plastic bags.

Co-op chief commercial officer Michael Fletcher said: “How we do business really matters. The world is experiencing a climate crisis and we need to work together to avoid it. Accelerating action is the only way to mitigate and reduce impacts on our natural world, and to ensure stable food supply chains in the future.

“We are committed in helping our members and customers to make environmentally-friendly choices and reducing the environmental impact of products is and always has been at the core of Co-op.

“That’s why we are writing to local authorities to encourage universal kerbside food waste collections and acceptance of compostable bags, sooner than 2023.”

The retailer is currently offering compostable bags through more than 1,000 stores to communities, where authorities are accepting them in the household food waste collections.