FDBusiness.com

UK food and drink manufacturers signed up to the Federation House Commitment (FHC) have achieved a 14.4% reduction in water use (excluding that in product), according to the latest progress report. The amount of water saved between 2007 and 2011 by signatories to the voluntary agreement, which aims to help manufacturers in the food and drink industry to improve their water efficiency, could fill nearly 2,400 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Signatories to the agreement, which is managed by WRAP and the Food & Drink Federation, have also increased, with an additional 18 organisations having signed up since April 2011, taking the total to 70 active signatories across 278 sites.

Water-saving measures being implemented by signatories to the FHC include improving water recovery and re-use, innovations in cleaning-in-place and dry cleaning operations – as well as domestic changes such as fitting more efficient taps and toilets.

Dr Liz Goodwin, chief executive of WRAP, says: “These findings are evidence that signatories to the Federation House Commitment are taking actions that are having a positive impact on water use. These results are helping to make a considerable contribution towards meeting the whole industry target of 20% by 2020. The decrease in water use is particularly pleasing given that production at these sites increased by 10.7% over the same reporting period.”

Andrew Kuyk, director of sustainability & competitiveness, FDF, comments: “These results are very good news, for food manufacturers, for our customers and for the environment. They show that green growth is a reality, as production has increased while water usage has fallen. They also prove the value of voluntary agreements where Government and businesses work together to deliver wider benefits.”