In April 2006 Defra published its Food Industry Sustainably Strategy (FISS), which challenged the food manufacturing sector to reduce its waste by 15 to 20 per cent by 2010. The FDF, which says sustainability has long been one of its priorities, yesterday hosted a workshop on food waste that was attended encouraging food companies across the food chain. It was the first in a series of planned events covering various aspects of sustainability. As well as acting as a forum for attendees to share what action they are presently taking, it also drew attention to emerging technologies, such as waste-to-energy and anaerobic digestion, which can offer sustainability benefits. The federation described the event as an exercise in contributing towards the sector's sustainability by raising awareness and spreading adoption of best practice. Callton Young, director of sustainability and competitiveness, said: "Reducing and managing waste in the food chain holds the potential for win-wins for business and the environment and is a sustainability priority. To maximise these benefits FDF will share the workshop materials with its wider membership and use them to inform its policy development on waste management and reduction." Young said that food and drink sector reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 15.2 per cent between 1990 and 2005 under FDF's voluntary Climate Change Agreement with Defra, and progress is continuing under the agreement. FDF has said it is planning further events for later this year, with subjects including energy and water.
