Tackling waste

the food waste survey did not, in fact, rank retailers based on their work to reduce waste (mail). Instead it ranked retailers based on what information the survey authors could find on retailer websites.

the survey was not a reflection of Waitrose’s work in this area, for example, scoring us only on the amount of food donated through a 25-shop trial and missing out all the food that hundreds of our other shops give to local good causes.

We’ve cut our food waste by 31 per cent since 2014, but that was not reflected in the survey score.

We have pioneered industry-leading work with farmers and suppliers for the past decade, for example, linking our dairy and beef supply chains so unwanted male dairy calves can be sold as ethical veal.

Cutting meat waste is a priority because of its environmental impact, but this was not explored in the report. We were not contacted by the authors to explain such points. TOR HARRIS, head of sustainability,

Waitrose, Bracknell, Berks.