Liz Goodwin to join WRI as senior fellow in the fight against food waste

Former chief executive of the UK Government's Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Liz Goodwin has revealed that she will join the World Resources Institute (WRI) as a senior fellow and director in September this year.


Goodwin, who stepped down from her position at WRAP earlier this year, will work to advance the WRI’s efforts to promote food waste reduction among countries and companies and engage with the public and private sectors to introduce solutions and action plans.

“I’m delighted to be joining WRI and excited to have the opportunity to continue to tackle food loss and waste on a global stage and scale,” Goodwin said. “The amount of food loss and waste is truly shocking and we need to find ways to reduce it, thereby reducing the environmental impact and improving the efficiency of our food systems so that our use of resources is more sustainable.”  

Under Goodwin’s leadership, WRAP championed various initiatives aimed at reducing food waste across the UK. Through WRAP initiatives food waste levels in the UK dropped by 21% in five years, with the organisation’s “Love Food Hate Waste” campaign driving awareness among consumers.

Despite funding cuts, WRAP has been able to mobilise the Courtauld Commitment to improve resource efficiency within the UK grocery sector. The new and revamped Commitment aims to deliver £20bn in savings by 2025, after the original plans reduced waste by 1.7 million metric tonnes and created £3.1bn in financial savings.

‘Immense expertise’

With one-third of all produced food failing to reach plates, WRI has attempted to introduce strategies to “secure a sustainable food future” and is an acting member of the Champions 12.3 coalition, which aims to mobilise action in line with the Sustainable Development Goal of halving food waste per capita and reducing food losses by 2030.

Goodwin will be no stranger to the internal workings at the WRI, having previously collaborated as members of the Food Loss and Waste Protocol, which seeks to quantify food removed from the food supply chain.

Speaking on Goodwin’s appointment, WRI’s global director of food, forests and water programmes Craig Hanson said: “Liz brings immense expertise and experience on issues of food, sustainability, and the environment. She has had a tremendous impact raising food loss and waste as a vital economic, social, and environmental issue, and she has successfully helped companies and governments reduce food waste at scale. WRI is thrilled she will continue her important work with our organisation.”

Last week, Marcus Gover replaced Goodwin as WRAP’s chief executive, having previously held the position of operations director at the organisation.


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Matt Mace

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