The Food and Drink Association (FDF) has reported good overall results made by food companies signed up to the Courtauld Commitment. The Courtauld Commitment is a reponsibility deal aimed at improving resource efficiency and reducing the carbon and wider environmental impact of the grocery retail sector. Retailers and brand owners sign up to the Commitment voluntarily - there are currently 53 signatories.

The FDF's announcement is a report on the first year of the Commitment's Phase 2, launched in March 2010. FDF report good overall progress in two out of the three target areas dealing with packaging and housing waste.

Andrew Kuyk, FDF's director of sustainability and competitiveness, said, "In particular FDF signatory companies appear to be performing well against the supply chain waste target. Clearly, more needs to be done to ensure all the targets are achieved by 2012 and we will continue to work with WRAP to support signatory companies, including ways to prevent waste arising at the outset in line with the waste hierarchy."