The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and Woolworths Limited have announced a joint study into ways of measuring the climate change impact of food, beverage and grocery products.
The study will help industry and government better understand and evaluate the concept of carbon footprinting in the Australian context.
Woolworths has recently committed to significantly reducing its direct greenhouse gas emissions from electricity use, refrigeration, transport and waste but believes that emissions associated with its supply chain are also important.
This industry partnership has been established to investigate the production, processing and packaging of the products sold by Woolworths.
AFGC Chief Executive Dick Wells said that it was vital that the food, beverage and grocery industry engages with all stakeholders in a properly informed debate.
The AFGC had been monitoring overseas practices on carbon footprinting and felt it was time for Australia to look to their own actions.
In late 2007 Woolworths published ‘Doing the Right Thing — Sustainability Strategy 2007 — 2015’, which sets out the company’s sustainability priorities in the areas of climate change, water, product sourcing, packaging, waste and environmentally friendly store design.
Available at www.woolworthslimited.com.au, the strategy outlines the company’s environmental targets.
AFGC member companies are committed to reducing the industry’s footprint on the environment whilst maintaining product quality and safety. Since 2003 the energy use per kilogram of finished product has fallen by 14%, greenhouse emissions have reduced by 29% and water use has reduced by 21%.
www.woolworthslimited.com.au
www.afgc.org.au
For further information email Rosie Schmedding at the AFGC.