Major food and drink companies make water efficiency pledge

More than 20 of the UK's largest food and drink manufacturers have pledged to reduce their water usage as part of a new government-backed initiative.

Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola and Kraft Foods UK are among the 21 signatories to a new plan, jointly-led by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and government agency Envirowise, aiming to improve water efficiency.

The scheme aims to save 140 million litres of water every day, contributing to an annual saving of £60 million on the company's water bills, with firms being given support for cutting their water use, as well as setting water efficiency targets.

Welcoming the initiative, Lord Rooker, minister for sustainable food and farming and animal health, said: "It is particularly pleasing to see so many influential companies, responsible for well known household brands, signing up on day one.

"I would like to urge more companies in the sector to follow the leadership and commitment being shown by FDF and its members to the environment."

The FDF is also targeting a 20 per cent reduction in water use, aside from that contained within products, by 2020, as part of the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy. ADNFCR-1231-ID-18443549-ADNFCR