For the first time in UK retail supply fish waste is to be identified and the team behind the research will also identify how to reduce it in order to realise cost savings and environmental benefits for the businesses participating. C-Tech Innovation, the Chester based innovation management and technology development company, is undertaking the research on fish waste in partnership with the Sea Fish Industry Authority, the authority on seafood, and Harris Interactive.
It is said that the new research, led by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and Envirowise, will develop detailed ‘resource maps’ to identify the amount of food and packaging waste that is generated by the seafood industry and where it occurs. Michaela Archer, Project Manager at Seafish, opined that this project represents a very positive step forward for the seafood industry building on waste management work already undertaken by Seafish.
Archer also said that they are encouraging companies to take part in the research to provide accurate and up-to-date information about waste produced across all parts of the supply chain. He told that they will be contacting companies throughout the whole seafood supply chain, covering all major fish and shellfish species of significance to the UK market, to discuss the type and quantity of waste produced and how it is disposed of.
This was endorsed by Charlotte Henderson, Retail Supply Chain Programme Manager at WRA saying that the problem of fish waste, alongside water use, is complex, requiring a multi-disciplinary approach. This will include making recommendations to tackle the ‘hot spots’ and the development of good practice case studies. These solutions will be shared and be good news for companies within the supply chains because the benefits identified will be commercial as well as environmental.
