The first ever national ‘Fresher for Longer’ conference planned for 5 February 2014 will feature a high profile speaker line-up with Defra’s newly appointed Minister for Resource Management, Dan Rogerson MP (Liberal Democrat) confirmed. Also confirmed is Ms Kerry McCarthy MP (Labour) Shadow Minister for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and Mark Pawsey MP (Conservative) Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Packaging.
Collective effort needed
Attendance of all three main political parties demonstrates the collective effort needed to reduce food waste, and highlights a key policy message that good packaging plays a pivotal role in keeping food ‘fresher for longer’ from the farm to the home – and in the home too.
The partners who developed the Fresher for Longer campaign are delighted with the cross party political support. The conference is aimed at supporting councils, retailers, brands and related supply chain organisations to take forward the FFL campaign in 2014.
Jane Bickerstaffe, Director of INCPEN said, ‘It’s really important the Fresher for Longer campaign gets out there to the public. People know food waste is an environmental disaster in developing countries but it is also a huge environmental problem in developed ones. This major conference aims to bring councils, retailers and other supply chain companies together so they can jointly tackle this by communicating with residents in their areas.’
Liz Goodwin, CEO, WRAP and speaking at the conference said, ‘Reducing food waste is a global issue. There’s a lot of work to do and I’m pleased the UK is at the forefront of activities to minimise food waste – developing and maintaining campaigns like Fresher for Longer will help deliver the reductions we all want to see.’
The conference programme is below. The venue is The Bevan Suite, Local Government Association, Smith Square, London, SWIP 3HZ. All bookings are via Paul Vanston, KRP Manager – paul.vanston@kent.gov.uk Spaces will be allocated to ensure the audience is a good mix of the various parts of the supply chain.
Fresher for Longer National Conference: 5 February 2014
Local Government Association, Bevin Suite, Smith Square, Westminster, London, SWIP 3HZ
Programme
10.15 to 11.00
Registration and Refreshments
11.00
Welcome by Conference Chair, Mr Mark Pawsey MP,
Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Packaging
11.15
The need to reduce food waste, Liz Goodwin, CEO, WRAP
11.25
Fresher for Longer: Overview for the UK, Emma Marsh, WRAP
11.45
Panel debate: ‘Packaging is bad for food … isn’t it?’
Industry Council for research Packaging and the Environment;
Packaging Federation; Food & Drink Federation; WRAP;
Kent Resource Partnership and British Retail Consortium
12.15
Lunch: Kindly sponsored by FFL Steering Group Partners.
13.30
Dan Rogerson MP,
Minister for Resource Management, Defra
13.50
Kerry McCarthy MP,
Shadow Minister, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
14.10
Conference Chair’s Summary of Speeches: Mark Pawsey MP
14.15
Opportunities from Supporting FFL: Retailers, Councils, Brands
Simon Oxley, Marks & Spencer PLC
Joy Blizzard, Shropshire County Council and recent chair of the
Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee
Ian Bowles, Premier Foods PLC
14.40 to 14.55
FFL: A National Campaign Delivered at Local Level
Paul Vanston, Kent Resource Partnership
14.55 to 15.00
Conference Chair’s Parting Thoughts: Mark Pawsey MP