BaxterStorey signs up to voluntary deal for business waste
BaxterStorey, the UK’s largest independent food service provider, has signed up to the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement launched by WRAP, on behalf of government, to cut waste within the sector.
As a founding signatory, BaxterStorey will support WRAP to achieve the collective targets outlined in the voluntary agreement - to reduce food and associated packaging waste arising by 5% by the end of 2015 and to increase the overall rate of food and packaging waste being recycled, sent to anaerobic digestion or composted to at least 70% by the end of 2015.
This commitment will see the caterer reinforce its focus on encouraging staff, customers and suppliers to waste less food and associated packaging, and reuse and recycle more.
WRAP will equip BaxterStorey with online tools, workshops, working groups and expert advice to help make these changes happen.
Mike Hanson BaxterStorey’s Head of Sustainability & Environmental Management commented: “By definition the hospitality industry produces a huge amount of waste; the voluntary agreement formalises what, for food service operators should be the norm; preventing waste, reducing the volume of waste and recycling what waste there is”.
John Bennett, BaxterStorey’s Joint CEO, said “BaxterStorey is delighted to be a founding signatory to the agreement and we look forward to working with WRAP, Defra and the British Hospitality Association in strengthening our industry’s resolve to continuously reduce our environmental impacts.”
Sustainable practice is not new to BaxterStorey. The caterer diverted 320 tonnes of food waste from landfill in 2011, displacing 62 tonnes of CO2. Through a food waste recycling process it also generated 140,000 kWh of renewable electricity in 2011 – enough to power 24 three-bedroom homes for a year. Furthermore, packaging has already been reduced by 20% across the business.