Food companies pledge carbon cuts

Forty food and drinks companies from across the UK have signed a pledge to slash food transport miles, significantly reducing the environmental impact of transporting food.

Businesses signed up to the pledge - written by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) - promise to make their food transport miles fewer and friendlier with the aim of reducing the environmental and social impacts of domestic food transport 20% by 2012 compared to a 2002 baseline.

The pledge - known in longhand as the FDF’s Environmental Checklist and Clause for Greener Food Transport - incorporates ten key recommendations, including maximising vehicle load, reducing journeys made without freight, and using rail and shipping instead of road freight.

According to the FDF, the scheme embeds environmental standards at the heart of the transport policies and practices of food companies.

Companies that have signed up to the scheme include Weetabix Ltd, Cadbury Schweppes, and Premier Foods - who make Branston Pickle and Hovis Bread.

Another well know signatory is United Biscuits, the makers of McVities products, who have already cut back by 2.7 million road miles per year compared to 2005, saving 4,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere.

Ian Ferguson, president of FDF, said he hopes the forty companies will be the first of many to sign up to the pledge.

Lord Rooker, minister of state for sustainable food, farming and animal health welcomed the scheme and said it was good to see the food and drinks industry showing leadership in the delivery of a sustainable future for the UK economy.