• About FDF
• Our Priorities
• Members list
• News
• Policy Briefings
  • Competitiveness
  • Food Safety and Science
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Sustainability
    • Climate Change and the Environment
      • Carbon Footprinting
      • CO2 Emissions
      • EC Proposed Directive on Industrial Emissions (IPPC)
      • Packaging
      • Transport
      • Waste
      • Waste Framework Directive
      • Water
    • Sustainable Development
• FDF Responses
• The Industry
• Events
• Publications
• Campaigns
• FAQs
• Polls

Water

Policy Position

FDF's Ambition to Reduce Water Use

FDF is committed to making a collective contribution to an industry-wide absolute target[1]to reduce water use, outside of that embedded in products themselves, by 20% by 2020 against a 2007 baseline.

In January 2008 FDF and Envirowise jointly launched the Federation House Commitment. It sets out five steps to success for food and drink manufacturing companies wishing to work in a systematic way to improve water efficiency. In summary these are:

• Developing a 2007 baseline of water use
• Assessing water use at each manufacturing site
• Developing site specific action plans
• Delivering against action plans
• Providing annual progress reports to Envirowise on water and cost savings

Twenty-one FDF members with a combined turnover of £15 billion signed up to the Commitment when it was launched. Since then a further nine FDF members have signed up. These signatories are currently engaged with Envirowise as required and are making good progress against the five steps to success.

As at August 2009, 180 FDF food and drink manufacturing sites across the country are working on saving water under the Commitment. Coverage is steadily growing every month. Already over half of the sites that registered on day one have put action plans in place to deliver water savings against 2007 baselines.

FDF jointly issued with Envirowise the first annual report under the Commitment in mid 2009.

FDF and Envirowise will continue to promote the Federation House Commitment as the primary vehicle for the food and drink manufacturing industry as a whole to achieve the industry-wide 20% reduction goal.

1. Proposed in the context of the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy published by Defra in 2006.

top

Background

The nation's water resources are increasingly coming under stress and, as a result, our nation’s local wildlife habitats and water quality are under threat. Tackling water stress is a growing environmental priority. Industry, water suppliers and consumers all have a part to play.

The food and drink manufacturing industry is a significant user of water. It is estimated that the UK food sector’s demand for water from the public water supply is about 430 mega litres[2] per day, and directly abstracts about 260 mega litres of water per day[3]. Defra estimates that this amounts to about 10% of all industrial use.

Water an essential ingredient in many food and drink products. It is also used in food and drink preparation, production and cleaning processes. However, the food and drink manufacturing industry can help to conserve water to alleviate water stress providing food safety and hygiene is not compromised.

2. A mega litre is 1,000,000 litres.
3. Report of the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy Champions Group of Water, May 2007

top