New food waste role for Goodwin after WRAP departure
Liz Goodwin, who leaves her role as CEO of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) on Thursday (30 June), is to join the World Resources Institute (WRI) as Senior Fellow and Director of Food Loss and Waste in September.
At the WRI, Goodwin will help lead action against food loss and waste at a global level. It is estimated that, worldwide, one-third of all food produced is wasted – costing up to $940 billion (£650 billion) per year, generating about eight per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and requiring a cropland area the size of China.
WRI is a ‘world leader in analysis, partnerships and strategies to secure a sustainable food future’. Goodwin has worked closely with WRI – most recently as a member of Champions 12.3, a coalition of global leaders aiming to accelerate progress toward meeting target 12.3 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which seeks to halve per capita food waste by 2030.
Goodwin and WRAP have also collaborated with WRI as members of the Food Loss and Waste Protocol, a framework designed to help businesses and governments measure, report on and manage their food loss and waste.
Goodwin is leaving WRAP after 15 years, including nine as CEO. She announced her decision to step down in February, stating that it was ‘the right time to pass to baton to someone else’.
During her time in the leading role, WRAP initiatives such as the ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign have helped reduce the amount of food wasted in UK homes by 21 per cent over five years.
In 2005, WRAP launched its signature Courtauld Commitment, a voluntary agreement aimed at improving resource efficiency and reducing waste within the UK grocery sector. This year, a new iteration of the scheme, Courtauld 2025, saw 98 signatories commit to reduce food and drink waste by 20 per cent in 10 years, alongside other targets.
Two weeks ago it was announced that Marcus Gover, currently Operations Director at the charity, would be taking over as CEO on Friday (1 July).
Excited to tackle food waste on a global scale
Goodwin said: “I’m delighted to be joining WRI and excited to have the opportunity to continue to tackle food loss and waste on a global stage and scale.
“The amount of food loss and waste is truly shocking and we need to find ways to reduce it, thereby reducing the environmental impact and improving the efficiency of our food systems so that our use of resources is more sustainable.”
Craig Hanson, WRI’s Global Director of Food, Forests, and Water, added: “Liz brings immense expertise and experience on issues of food, sustainability and the environment.
“She has had a tremendous impact raising food loss and waste as a vital economic, social and environmental issue, and she has successfully helped companies and governments reduce food waste at scale. WRI is thrilled she will continue her important work with our organisation.”
More information is available at WRI’s website.
