FDF outlines Ambition 2030 sustainability strategy

The UK Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has unveiled the next stage of its sustainability initiative, Ambition 2030, at an event held at London Zoo in partnership with Ecosurety.

Karen Betts, Chief Executive of FDF, outlined the goals of the project: “FDF is now also increasingly looking beyond 2030, ensuring we’re working with other key partners across the food sector and in government to ensure we are mapping the sector’s next, critical steps to 2050, ensuring our food and drink supplies are sustainable and secure, while actively contributing to global food security, in a changing world.”

Building on its previous strategy, Ambition 2025, the new strategy sets out five targets for the UK food and drink manufacturing sector over the next five years.

Net zero: Currently, the food and drink sector is responsible for around a quarter of the UK’s total CO2 emissions. To combat this, FDF has committed to supporting the agrifood supply chain’s target to reduce CO2 emissions by 50 per cent, in line with the industry’s pledge to achieve net zero by 2040.

Nature restoration: FDF will invest in nature restoration projects such as regenerative agriculture, contributing to the UK’s Nature Positive plan to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. Example targets include procuring 50 per cent of fresh hood from areas with sustainable water management and sourcing from regenerative farms.

Sustainable commodities: Conversion of land for agricultural expansion is the largest cause of biodiversity loss and drives almost 90 per cent of global deforestation. FDF urges all manufacturers to source 100 per cent of key commodities in their supply chains from verified deforestation and conversion free (DCF) sources by 2030.

Food waste - Around a third of all food produced is currently wasted, accounting for up to 10 per cent of the world’s total CO2 emissions. FDF aims to work with partners across industry and government to reduce household food waste, which contributes for 70 per cent of the UK’s edible food waste. Manufacturers will also be aiming to halve their food waste output by 2030.

Packaging - FDF has committed to working with the government to create a packaging recycling system in the UK. FDF is also calling for broader policy interventions, such as mass balance accounting for the Plastic Packaging Tax, faster safety approvals for mechanical recycling processes, and consistent collections and a Deposit Return Scheme rollout across the four nations.

Betts highlighted the urgency of adapting within the sector: “Climate change is demanding rapid change on the part of food systems – whether this is adapting to unpredictable weather patterns or changing what we’re doing and how we’re doing it to produce food and drink. The businesses in our sector are active – directly and through their supply chains – in driving down emissions, working to restore nature, reducing food waste, and ensuring all packaging is reduced, reused or recycled.”

Circular Economy Minister, Mary Creagh, praised the initiative: “Packaging waste, emissions and sustainability are complex problems for industry – which is why it’s crucial for us to work together to tackle these issues through Ambition 2030, building on the progress already made by food and drink manufacturers.”

Andre Burger, General Manager Foods, Unilever UK & Ireland, and Chair of the FDF’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, added: “With the impacts of climate change being felt right across the globe and presenting a significant challenge to food production and security, it’s never been more important for food and drink manufacturers to tackle the critical issues contributing to our changing climate.

“It will be critical for the FDF and its members to collaborate with government and across the supply chain to mobilise action and ensure the industry can deliver on its ambitions."