WRAP’s collaborative approach to Pathfinder projects

IEMA Webinar12 August 2014

Mark BarthelSpecial Adviser – Product Sustainability, WRAP

What is PSF?• Collaboration of organisations made up of grocery

and home improvement retailers and suppliers, academics, NGOs, trade & professional bodies and UK Governments

• It provides a platform for these organisations to work together to collect, analyse and share the best available evidence on the environmental performance of products

• Works alongside similar initiatives being undertaken around the world through an international network

• Our goal is to create focus and maximise the impact of our interventions

Research & Evidence Filling gaps in knowledge & driving action

Life Cycle

Hotspots

Existing Initiative

s

Key actors

Pathfinder activityReal world product improvement programmes (pilots, working groups, industry implementation)

Tackling hotspotsFocus on product category, cross-cutting and product system hotspots

Driving Collaborative Change

Product sustainability focused collaborative framework

Knowledge BaseOn-line data & resources

Priority ProductsFocusing on the products that matter

Measurement & Reporting

Building industry skills, capacity and capability on product sustainability

Work in international value chains supported by a growing international network of product sustainability

initiatives

BananasBath & shower products

Beef Biscuits

Bread & rolls Breakfast cereals

ButterCakes,pastries, etc.

Canned seafood

Canned meat

Coffee

Canned vegetables Carbonates Cat & dog

food

Cheese ChocolateCider & perry Deli-food Deodorant

Nappies

Dishwashing products

Fish & seafood

Frozen vegetables

General cleaning products

Ice-cream & frozen desserts

Lamb Margarine

Pork Potato crisps

Potatoes PoultryPre-packed sandwiches Ready meals

Rice SpiritsSugar confectionery Tea

Toilet & kitchen rolls

Tomatoes

Processed snacks

Yogurts

Dilutables

Beer

Laundry detergent

Eggs

Wine

Milk & cream

Juices

Onions Pizza

Feedback

Top 50 products

Introduction OpportunitiesHotspots HelpResources

Extends to top 50 products

Potatoes4th largest sales volume by product mass

Over 1,925 M tonnes a year

Inputs & impactsAlmost 0.52MtCO2e GHGs

> 4177GJ energy input

> 142 065 million litres water footprint

Hotspots includeWhole Chain - Waste

Distribution - Materials

Agriculture - Water

Agriculture – GHG emissions

Guidance materials10 highly relevant Reduction Opportunities.

5 Action Plans

5 Topic Guides

Hotspots – Potatoes

Main outdoor crop in the UK - around 50% needing irrigation in summer (4,18).

Potatoes are commonly wasted in home; about 770,000t per year (14). Grading and packing losses can reach rates of up to 25% (14), which results in potatoes going to secondary markets for animal feed (19).

Energy for machinery and irrigation, fertiliser & pesticide use are a key source of emissions (3, 4, 10).

• The hotspots, left, can be used to target efforts – however actual performance will be dependent on the specifics of your supply chain.

• Numbers in brackets denote numbered reference in references slide.

• Evidence level: High - Well studied product type, good understanding of key issues.

• 6th largest food commodity globally, with the UK being 12th largest potato producer (4).

• Accounts for c. 45% - 55% of total water used irrigation. Main growing region - Eastern England – under water stress in dry summers (4).

• Some key variables that affect performance are explored on a later slide.

Notes

Notable primary & secondary hotspots

Depending on length of storage, impacts of climate control can be significant (5).Different consumer cooking methods

can double the life cycle energy use (1). Up to 75% of GHG emissions (9).

Peat sometimes used for conservation during long distance transport of imported potatoes (e.g. new potatoes) (9).

Introduction OpportunitiesHotspots Resources Help

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GHGs Energy WaterWasteMaterial

risk

Agriculture

Packaging

Pack & store

Dist. Retail

Consumer

Reducing waste reduces resource consumption at all stages upstream

Variables affecting potato impactsCooking methodsPotatoes are low impact, so cooking is a major contributor to the footprint of potatoes. For oven baked potatoes it’s around 70% of the impact; 55% for everyday potatoes and 40% for new potatoes

Providing tips to reduce cooking times could reduce the consumer impact considerably, this could include microwave cooking instructions on packs (1), cutting potatoes smaller and use of a metal skewer to reduce cooking time.

Growing The yield of potatoes can vary significantly based on potato variety. For example, the yield per hectare for new potatoes is considerably lower than that of other varieties. Lower yield varieties will usually have a higher impact per kilogram of product than old potatoes (13).

The use of Nitrogen fertiliser during production is a significant source of GHG impacts in potato growing (5). However, since the 1980’s the potato industry has significantly reduced the amounts of NPK fertilisers used by at least a third (Potatoes: A low impact crop?(ADAS 2011/12)). Potato production uses 45% - 55% of all water used to irrigate crops in the UK (4). The energy use required to deliver the irrigated water varies (from 1.6-3.5 kWh/mm water/ha) depending on delivery method (25).

WastePotatoes are among the most wasted foodstuffs in the UK – up to 40% of potatoes grown are not used (12). The amount of waste in the supply chain is low compared to that arising from households and generally the level of waste at any particular stage in the supply chain is around 1% to 3% (26). One major cause of this wastage is inappropriate storage methods causing unnecessary spoilage of the potatoes. Other causes are consumer demand for non-blemished potatoes, poor use of ‘leftovers’, field loss, mechanised harvest damage, weather damage (e.g. Maris Piper wet rot), incorrect in-store handling (26).

Local vs. imported potatoesImported potatoes have about twice the GHG impact per kg of their local equivalents. This is mainly due to the need for chilled storage, transportation also contributes to this impact (13). In the UK, usually only new potatoes are imported, often out of season, but these make up a minority of potato consumption in the UK (26).

StorageSome studies show storage as a hotspot for maincrop

potatoes which must be held in cold storage for up to half a year from harvest in Autumn through to the next cropping season. The need to store potatoes longer and to maintain quality without the use of chemicals requires energy (24) and this can account for 17% of pre-consumer impacts (5). The industry is responding by innovative store improvements e.g. installation of inverters, photovoltaics and ground source refrigeration

Introduction OpportunitiesHotspots Resources Help

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Introduction OpportunitiesHotspots Resources Help

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Precision agricultureProduct sustainability opportunityA common definition of precision agriculture (PA) is the application of inputs at the right time, in the right place, in the right amount, from the right source, in the right manner (1). Key to PA is the realisation that while on a 1000ha farm in the U.S. PA might involve sophisticated informational systems and a suite of autopilots, PA on a 0.5ha farm in India may simply involve a team of highly skilled workers, and improved knowledge transfer. One report suggests that a 20% improvement in nutrient use efficiency by 2020 would reduce use of nitrogen fertilizer by 20 million tonnes annually. This in turn could produce a net saving worth around £110 billion per annum (4).

Other key resources & initiatives1. Precision agriculture: challenges and opportunities in a flat world – proceedings from the 19th World Congress of Soil

Science2. The National Centre for Precision Farming – research platform for PA run by Harper Adams University3. Potential for information technologies to improve decision making – summary of PA technologies for the livestock

sector4. Our Nutrient World – report framing the challenge of producing more food with less nutrient input5. Further precision farming links provided by Harper Adams University, including HGCA precision farming advice6. Centre for Precision Agriculture – UK forum, including case studies

Case study – Microdosing in Africa Case study – PepsiCo UK & i-crop

GHGs

Energy

Water

Waste

Materials

PepsiCo UK have invested in i-crop and Cool Farm Tool as part of their 50 in 5 campaign.

By 2011, 70 of PepsiCo’s British suppliers had adopted the technologies. This has led to growers achieving a 7% reduction in carbon output and a 10% drop in water use.

Research carried out for the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics has led to the introduction of microdosing applied directly to plants using bottlecaps for measurement. This simple technique to apply the right amount of fertilizer has led to increases in yield of 44-120%, as well as income increases of 50-130%.

Hotspot

Introduction OpportunitiesHotspots Resources Help

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Introduction OpportunitiesHotspots Resources Help

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Benefits of soil managementProduct sustainability opportunityDespite soil being a fundamental natural resource upon which agricultural production relies, it is consistently undervalued and is in a state of global decline. Some 40% of soil used for agriculture is either degraded or seriously degraded, and estimates suggest we have lost ~70% of global topsoil – the layer of soil allowing plants to grow (1). Healthy soil can act as a buffer against climate change; UK soils alone contain 10bn tCO2, 50 times the UK’s annual emissions (3).

Other key resources & initiatives1. See also How to use digestate as a fertiliser substitute action plan2. World Economic Forum interview with Professor John Crawford (University of Sydney), a world expert on soil 3. Protecting our Water, Soil and Air – gives a good practice guide for soil management4. Safeguarding our Soils – A Strategy for England – outlines Defra’s strategy for sustainable soil management by 20305. Soil Protection Review – outlines the regulatory compliance and benefit schemes for soil management6. Profiting from soil organic matter – a guide to improving soil organic matter management

UK soils face three main threats (3): 1. Soil erosion – 2.2mt topsoil is eroded p.a. in the

UK at a cost of £45m, incl. £9m in lost production2. Organic matter decline – severely reduces soil

quality, holding less water, and costing £82m p.a.3. Compaction – reduces productivity, but is

reversible through land management practice

Soil management best practice will include any of the following practices: reduced tillage, nutrient management, encouraging stubble, and managing overgrazing (1).

Threats & remedial measures Case studies – Pigs & arable

An arable farm showed a net benefit of £27/ha over a 7 year period incorporating straw as organic matter. Fuel costs dropped 20-30% as tractors required less power to drive on healthier soil (5).

GHGs

Energy

Water

Waste

Materials

A 320ha farm with a 300 sow pig unit saw an increase in net profit of over £60/ha in a 10 year period. The farm uses pig waste as farmyard manure, saving 60-80 units/year of inorganic fertiliser equivalent (5).

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Introduction OpportunitiesHotspots Resources Help

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Reducing consumer food wasteProduct sustainability opportunity

In the UK, 7.2 million tonnes of food and drink is wasted every year, 4.4 million of which is avoidable. The average UK household currently spends £480 on wasted food every year, totalling £12 billion overall. WRAP reported a significant reduction between 2006/7 and 2010 (13%) (1) but a range of opportunities exist for retailers and manufacturers to help further reduce this waste, and deliver significant financial (for customers) and environmental benefits.

Other key resources & initiatives1. Household food waste resource listing – summary of WRAP partner resources to use to reduce household food and

drink waste 2. Courtauld Commitments Phase Two Case Studies November 2012 – WRAP report providing a list of useful case

studies3. Love Food Hate Waste partners site – wide range of resources available for partners to use free of charge4. New estimates for household food and drink waste in the UK – WRAP report providing food waste estimates for 2011 5. What retailers and brands are doing to help you reduce food waste – Love Food Hate Waste report

Raising awareness and enabling behaviour change

Case studies: Changes to products

GHGs

Energy

Water

Waste

Materials

Changes to products, packaging and labelling makes it easier for consumers to buy the right amount and use what they buy.• M&S were the first to introduce

‘freeze before the date’ labelling, replacing ‘freeze on day of purchase’, giving consumers more flexibility to freeze what they may not eat in time.

• ‘Display until’ dates are being removed by many retailers and brands, reducing confusion and giving prominence to the important dates.

• ASDA launched new packaging for their extra special Royal Jersey potatoes that increases shelf life and reduces waste

A combination of large-scale campaigns and local engagement is an effective way to help consumers realise the benefits of throwing away less food, and giving them the tools and confidence to make small changes to the way they shop, store and cook food. Morrisons Great Taste Less Waste had regular articles in their magazine and on-line tips and advice, whilst Sainsbury’s Make your roast go further campaign provided its customers with leftover recipes designed to incorporate key ingredients from a roast. The Co-op regularly includes Love Food Hate Waste messages on till-screens, reaching millions of customers in store.

Hotspot

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Securing crop supply through whole crop purchasingAction Plan

The level of supply security and supply chain resilience are expected to fall in the short to medium term while price volatility will continue to increase due to global demand and climate change. Whole Crop Purchasing (WCP) is a practice that involves manufacturers or retailers buying an entire crop from producers and then incorporating below-sellable quality food to other parts of their supply chain. Buying the entire crop allows you to benefit from increased cost and supply control whilst at the same time providing a secure market for producers that can reduce overproduction, storage and other supply chain waste.

Resources

1. The Future of Food and Farming – exploration of global food pressures between now and 20502. Fruit and vegetable resource maps – fresh fruit and vegetable waste or lost in the UK’s food supply chain3. Household food and drink waste in the UK – estimates of food waste from UK homes

Implementation ProcessThis Action Plan focuses on how to secure local and global supply of produce through a whole crop purchasing system.

Retailers should work closely with producers to establish the viability of implementation and potential savings. Waste levels in the field are often not well known or reported and can potentially produce a large saving if reduced.

Introduction OpportunitiesHotspots Resources Help

GHGs

Energy

Water

Materials

Waste

Download Action Plan

 Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4 Step 5

Retailer

Identify key commodities

Develop resource maps

Engage suppliers in WCP discussions

Identify suitable subcontracting sorting/ packhouse partners

Trial with select producers

ProducerEngage in partnership discussions with major retail customers

Develop logistics plan with partners

Trial relationship with one crop

Hotspot

PSF Knowledge Base

Contact: elaine.charlesworth@wrap.org.uk

• Whole chain resource efficiency

• Potatoes from farm-to-fork (Co-op)

• Milk into chocolate supply chain (Nestle)

• Temperature Control and Process Optimisation for fish (Sainsbury’s)

• Reducing waste in the onion processing chain (William Jackson)

• Apples value chain farm to retail (Musgraves)

• Soft Drinks Roadmap Raw Materials Sourcing

• Beef supply chain

• Pork/Bacon supply chain

• Bakery looking at a sliced bread value chain

Pathfinder Projects

• Supply chain stages

• Raw Materials Risk Tool

• Unintended Product Residue (UPR) (INCPEN and Boots)

• Sustainable Buying – tackling hotspots at the ‘raw materials’ stage

• Embedding sustainability in product design & development (Sainsbury’s)

Pathfinder Projects

Thank you

mark.barthel@wrap.org.ukwww.wrap.org.uk/psfwww.product-sustainability.net