As environmental issues gain ground in the European food and drink industry, the UK Food and Drink Federation (FDF) reports this week that food and drink companies appear to be making steady progress in reducing harmful carbon dioxide emissions. Since 2001 companies have cut CO2 emissions by 160,000 tonnes.

In response to the commitments of the global Kyoto Protocol the UK government launched the Climate Change Agreement scheme, one of 44 sector initiatives, for all of UK industry, setting a target for the FDF's Climate Change Levy (CCL) discount scheme of 959.3 Kilowatt Hours of energy per tonneof production (kWhp/Te).

According to the FDF , the sector actually reduced energy consumption to 897.6kWhp/Te resulting in considerable reductions in CO2 emissions. More than 1,000 participating FDF sites have now been re-certified to receive the sector's agreed 80 per centdiscount for a further two years. The FDF stressed that this action has, to date, saved the industry £80 million (€116m) from discounts on the Climate Change Levy.

Martin Paterson, deputy director general of the FDF, said:"The 2002 target was very challenging, and companies worked hard to achieve it. FDF recognises the industry's responsibility for contributing towards greenhouse gas reductions, and sees the success of our Discount Scheme as a positive step towards the government's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

But this is just the first such stepin an ongoing programme, with further tough targets ahead."