Major food producers agree to cut transport miles
Published : July 2008
Some of the UK’s best known food and drink manufacturers, including Birds Eye, Mars and Unilever, have today signed up to the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) Environmental Checklist and Clause for Greener Food Transport.
Around 40 firms in all have committed to using a ten-point checklist laid out by the FDF which includes: maximising vehicle loading; upping use of rail and shipping; complying with strict vehicle emission standards; and reducing empty running. The Minister of State for Sustainable Food, Farming and Animal Health, Lord Rooker, said he welcomed the initiative, applauding the leadership in the area taken by one of the leading contributing sectors to the UK economy.
The FDF maintains that by using the best practice guide, companies stand to make significant savings on their fuel and labour costs while taking positive steps towards making a real difference to the environment, in line with its Five-fold Environmental Ambition. Launched in October last year, the ambition aims to help firms reduce carbon dioxide emissions, packaging and waste, as well as transport miles.
“Transporting food and drink, like all other goods, has environmental and social impacts. Today FDF members are making a significant commitment to reducing these impacts, and are once again showing leadership on an important environmental agenda. The companies that have signed up to the checklist and clause today are the first of what we hope will be many more signatories to this commitment to achieving fewer and friendlier food transport miles,” said Iain Ferguson, FDF president
Fiona Dawson, managing director of Mars, said: “Mars in the UK is delighted to support the FDF fewer and friendlier food transport miles commitment. By maximising load fill, minimising journey distances, increasing fuel efficiency and where possible shifting from road to rail.”
Other firms to sign up include GlaxoSmithKline, McCain Foods, Britvic and Associated British Foods plc.