The FPA Annual Awards 2012, held at The Grand Hotel Brighton was unqualified success for all 340 Members and their guests attending this superb event. The FPA Members Award was presented to Mike Kearns of St. Neots Packaging for his service both to the industry and the FPA. A further 7 Awards were presented and our raffle raised £4,100 divided between Springboard and Hopsitality Action.

Parliamentary Under Secretary and government spokesperson for DEFRA, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, the Minister for Waste & Recycling, acknowledged the vital role that foodservice packaging plays in reducing food waste and the valuable contribution the industry makes to the UK.Lord Taylor also called for a greater level of partnership between the government and the FPA and highlighted the conflict between the government’s desire to reduce food waste and meet packaging reduction targets.   He said: “We will be looking to the FPA to help us achieve our ambitions for recycling and reducing food waste in the UK by continuing their positive work.”

For the first time a Government Minister will be attending an FPA event when Lord Taylor of Holbeach, Parliamentary Undersecretary and Government Spokesman at DEFRA addresses the FPA Environment Seminar taking place at The Alveston Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon on 12 January Lord Taylor completes a superb line up of speakers representing some of the most influential names in UK environmental policy.

The Foodservice Packaging Association has announced its support for the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s ‘Too Good To Waste’ campaign.

The campaign is designed to cut the amount of food waste going to landfill by encouraging restaurants to offer ‘doggy boxes’ and encouraging consumers to ask for them. According to a survey carried out by the SRA, 25% of those surveyed said they were too embarrassed to ask for a doggy bag or box and a third had never thought to ask.