WRAP UK Brings Waste Reduction Action Plan Successes to #ZWC2017

With a track record of success, a clear sense of purpose, and the support of business and government, WRAP UK has an impressive list of circular economy accomplishments. At the 2017 Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Conference, the organization’s achievements in both food and textiles will offer inspiration and a road map for success. Here’s what they’ve achieved so far.

Formed in 2000, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) was set up to promote sustainable waste management in the United Kingdom. To date the organization has had some notable successes, including:

2016 – The Courtauld Commitment 2025 – Building on the Courtauld Commitments 1 & 2, signed by major UK supermarkets, this voluntary agreement brings together organizations across the food system – from producer to consumer – to make food and drink production and consumption more sustainable. The signatories are on track to reduce food waste by 50%, and cut the resources needed to provide food and drink for the U.K  by one-fifth over ten years.

2015 – WRAP’s Accelerating Reprocessing Infrastructure Development programme (ARID) which helped the recycling industry invest in Wales, eliminates nearly 400,000 tonnes of waste and creates 178 new jobs

2013 to 2015 – WRAP tackles textiles,  launching the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP), bringing together textile manufacturers and fashion brands to develop a collective plan to reduce water consumption, carbon emissions and waste in the industry. The Plan includes initiatives such as  Love Your Clothes, the Sustainable Clothing Guide, and aligns with the European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP), designed to cut the environmental impact of clothing across the supply chain. The plan generates value for business through collaboration, facilitating measurement of progress, and sharing best practices.

2010 to 2012 – Courtauld Commitment 2 achieves a reduction in waste of 1.7 million tonnes

2005 to 2009 – Over the four-year period of Courtauld Commitment 1 (2005-9), 1.2 million tonnes of food and packaging waste was prevented, saving 3.3 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon emissions)

2000 – WRAP was set up to promote sustainable waste management.

Sustainable Textile Successes
Joining us for #ZWC2017 will be Leigh Mapledoram, WRAP’s Programme Area Manager for Sustainable Textiles which incorporates the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) and the European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP). Since becoming involved in SCAP, he has seen the membership of SCAP grow to over 50% of the UK market by volume and value and has reported significant progress in moving towards the SCAP 2020 targets for carbon, water and waste footprint reductions. In addition, he is involved in the ECAP project, which is a significant step in being able to make environmental improvements in the European clothing sector. Expect Leigh to offer some valuable insights into their successes in creating buy-in from the industry while achieving waste and energy reductions at the same time. Leigh will be part of the panel for our Textiles: Fashion Forward Thinkers session.

Food Waste Innovations
Helping us to learn more about WRAP’s food waste reduction successes will be Claire Kneller, Head of International Business Development, WRAP UK. Claire has delivered a number of high profile programmes during her time with WRAP, including: a £20M grant support program for new composting and anaerobic digestion facilities; designing and implementing a £10M loan fund for innovative sustainability projects including assessing applications and managing the loan book and financial partners and; co-delivering multiple small, medium, and large scale projects for international partners ranging from Apple to the UN. Claire now works with partners across the world from Canada and Australia to South Africa & Mexico. Her breadth of experience promises to deliver essential insights regarding proven business strategies in our session on food waste entitled: Food Waste: How Do We in Canada Rise to the Challenge?

A Full Day of Inspiring Speakers and Panellists
Leigh and Claire are just two of the industry experts sharing hard-won knowledge at the 2017 Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Conference. To learn more, visit our Program page for the full day’s agenda, or visit the Speakers page to find out who else will be participating in the conference as a speaker, panellist, or moderator, including our opening keynote, retired NASA astronaut and scientist Dr. Cady Coleman.

Only 15 Days until the Conference – Register Today!
The shift to circular economy principles will have impacts in all aspect of our lives. To succeed in the face of this massive, fast-approaching change, you need to stay informed. Metro Vancouver’s 2017 Zero Waste Conference is the place to get the insights you can use to adapt – from keynote speakers such as scientist and retired NASA astronaut Dr. Cady Coleman, food waste pioneer Tristram Stuart, and all the rest of our industry-leading panelists and presenters. This year’s theme is A Circular Economy Within Reach. The conference will be held on November 1, 2017 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Register Now

Zero Waste Conference 2017 Promo from Metro Vancouver on Vimeo.

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