Food Waste in UK Manufacturing: An Ongoing Challenge
Food waste is a major headache for UK manufacturers, but how can it best be addressed? The UK has one of the worst food waste rates in Europe, throwing away 6.4 million tonnes of edible food each year – this equates to more than 15 billion meals. As one of the largest sectors in the UK’s economy, the food manufacturing industry is in a key position to combat this issue, which currently impacts the environment and the economy on a massive scale.
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The Economic Importance of the Food Manufacturing Industry
Food is the largest sector of the UK’s manufacturing industry. Annually, it contributes £30 billion to the UK market – nearly 1/6 of the UK’s manufacturing output – and employs more than 468,000 people. As a pillar of the British economy, the food manufacturing industry has the power, capital, and influence to act against the 1.5 million tonnes of waste it currently generates each year. Addressing this waste in the sector could bring both economic and environmental benefits.
The Environmental Impact of Manufacturing Waste
The implementation of a sustainable, waste-limiting supply system would see manufacturers reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, replenish valuable resources, and feed more people with less land – a crucial balance to strike amid growing populations and rising living costs. Of all stages along the UK food chain, manufacturing is one of the most significant contributors to landfill waste. While some waste is classed as ‘unavoidable’ (such as inedible produce like meat bones or eggshells), a sizeable portion of discarded food could have been used to feed people. Instead, this waste occupies valuable land for years or even decades as it slowly decomposes.
Reducing Waste: The Growing Pressure for Sustainability
Pressure is mounting from customers, investors, and regulatory bodies for businesses to become more sustainable. Waste management specialist Waste Mission urges businesses to rethink their approach to waste, seeing it as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Manufacturers who take action to reduce their waste can not only boost their green credentials but also improve their bottom line. Recycling, redistributing, or reprocessing resources can cut costs and create additional revenue streams.
Turning Waste into a Resource
Nicola Guest, Group Marketing Manager for Waste Mission, points out that the estimated monetary value of the UK’s annual waste is £21.8 billion. "We talk to many businesses across the UK for whom waste is a major headache, not least for health and safety, and disposal," she says. Some pet food producers, for example, have made substantial cost savings by working with Waste Mission to find innovative recycling solutions, diverting 100 percent of their waste from landfills.
Waste Management Solutions for the Future
Among the waste management services that Waste Mission provides is anaerobic digestion. This process converts waste into biogas, a renewable energy source: one tonne of waste can generate about 300 kWh – enough to power a fridge for four months. In the UK, around 1.3 million tonnes of waste are processed through anaerobic digestion each year – powering 200,000 homes. Similarly, rendering is a process that recycles waste (including bones) into fats, oils, and protein meals for animal feed.
The Link Between Waste and the Cost-of-Living Crisis
The issue of waste has become more acute amid a cost-of-living crisis, rising food poverty, and the climate crisis. Thirty percent of consumers surveyed by Deloitte last year said they have stopped buying products due to ethical or sustainability-related concerns. The UK alone produces more than 10 million tonnes of waste a year (WRAP, 2023), most of which ends up in landfill. Of this, 6.4 million tonnes are edible. Decomposing waste produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
The Regulatory Environment for Waste Reduction
The regulatory environment around waste is tightening. From March 2025, all UK businesses will be required to separate waste from other types and arrange for proper collection. This March, six major supermarkets signed an open letter to the government calling for mandatory waste reporting for large firms. The Courtauld Commitment sets the UK the target of halving waste (post-farm gate) by 2030 (compared to 2007 levels). Nicola Guest of Waste Mission emphasizes, "The time to act on waste is now because businesses are going to have to do more and soon."
Waste Mission’s Services for Reducing Food Waste
Waste Mission offers comprehensive waste management solutions – from waste collection to strategic sustainability planning – for all types of waste streams. It helps businesses transform waste into revenue, comply with industry standards, and strengthen their green credentials. By tackling waste, businesses not only reduce their carbon footprint but also enhance their operational efficiency.
