WRAP (organisation)

WRAP (organisation)
Name	WRAP
Formation	2000
Type	Non-profit
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Region served	Global

WRAP (organisation) is a UK-based non-profit focused on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and circular economy policy. It develops standards, guidance, and voluntary agreements engaging businesses, local authorities, and international bodies to reduce food waste, improve recycling, and promote sustainable materials. WRAP works across supply chains with stakeholders from retail, manufacturing, and hospitality to influence product design, procurement, and consumer behavior.

History

WRAP was established in 2000 following policy discussions in United Kingdom climate and sustainability forums and recommendations from stakeholders including Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Environment Agency (England and Wales), and industry groups such as Confederation of British Industry and British Retail Consortium. Early activities drew on frameworks from Kyoto Protocol, EU Waste Framework Directive, and initiatives like the Sustainable Development Commission. WRAP’s early campaigns aligned with corporate social responsibility trends exemplified by Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group and collaborations with NGOs including Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace. Over time WRAP expanded from UK pilots to international projects linked to programs by United Nations Environment Programme, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and bilateral partnerships with governments such as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Major milestones include launching the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, the development of the Courtauld Commitment, and the creation of standards influencing supply chains participating in initiatives similar to the Global Reporting Initiative.

Mission and Objectives

WRAP states objectives to prevent waste, promote reuse, and enable circularity through interventions with industry and public sectors. Its mission echoes policy aims found in instruments like the Circular Economy Action Plan and complements targets set by the United Nations Environment Assembly and Paris Agreement. WRAP seeks measurable reductions in food loss, improved textile reuse, and increased recycling rates by aligning corporate targets with frameworks such as the Science Based Targets initiative and procurement guidance referenced by Local Government Association and Crown Commercial Service. Objectives include developing metrics analogous to those used by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments and reporting mechanisms used in Sustainable Development Goal monitoring.

Programs and Initiatives

WRAP’s signature programs include the Courtauld Commitment—a voluntary agreement with retailers, manufacturers, and trade bodies—and the Love Food Hate Waste public campaign. Other initiatives target textiles, packaging, and construction materials, linking to standards such as those from British Standards Institution and harmonizing with directives like the Waste Framework Directive (EU). WRAP has run trials with partners including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, and food service actors like Compass Group and Sodexo to pilot food waste prevention and redistribution mechanisms. It has supported municipal recycling pilots alongside authorities such as Manchester City Council and Birmingham City Council and collaborated with research institutions including University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and Cranfield University to produce lifecycle assessment tools similar to those used in ISO 14040 studies. WRAP developed measurement protocols adopted by supply chains and influenced voluntary certification schemes used by brands and trade associations such as the Food and Drink Federation.

Governance and Funding

WRAP is governed by a board of trustees and senior management drawn from industry, academia, and public bodies, reflecting governance models similar to Royal Society and Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Its funding historically combined government grants, fee-for-service contracts, and corporate contributions from private sector partners including major retailers and manufacturers. Financial flows have involved contracts with departments like DEFRA and project funding from foundations and international donors such as elements of European Commission Horizon and bilateral programs. Audit and reporting align with charity sector practice exemplified by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Partnerships and Collaborations

WRAP collaborates with a wide range of organizations: private sector leaders such as Unilever, PepsiCo, and Nestlé; retail groups like Aldi and Iceland; logistics partners including DHL and Royal Mail; and hospitality networks including Hilton Worldwide and InterContinental Hotels Group. It engages with trade unions, trade associations such as the British Hospitality Association, and civil society actors including FareShare and Trussell Trust for redistribution and social programs. Internationally, WRAP has worked with agencies like UNEP, World Bank, and national ministries across India, China, and South Africa on circular economy roadmaps and capacity building. Academic partnerships include collaborations with University of Leeds, University of Southampton, and University of Oxford on research and evidence synthesis.

Impact and Criticism

WRAP reports quantified reductions in household food waste, increased textile reuse, and packaging improvements attributed to its voluntary agreements and public campaigns, citing outcomes similar to metrics used in Sustainable Development Goals reporting. Independent evaluations have praised the practical tools and industry engagement while critiques focus on reliance on voluntary mechanisms versus regulatory approaches advocated by campaigners such as ClientEarth and Friends of the Earth. Some stakeholders have argued for stronger statutory measures like extended producer responsibility frameworks embodied in legislation comparable to elements of the Environment Act 2021. Debates also involve transparency of corporate reporting, comparability of metrics with Greenhouse Gas Protocol accounting, and the balance between behavior change campaigns and systemic policy instruments promoted by think tanks like the Institute for Government.

Category:Non-profit organisations based in the United Kingdom