WRAP’s Liz Goodwin honoured with OBE

Liz Goodwin, chief executive of the UK Government's Waste & Resources Action Plan (WRAP) has received an OBE for her services to business, resource efficiency and the environment.


Goodwin, who joined the organisation back in 2001, has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, announced this evening (12 June).

She said: “I’m honoured to receive this award which I see very much as recognition for all the staff at WRAP, who have worked tirelessly to make the world a better place.

“We have a collective responsibility to review how we value and use our precious resources to meet today’s needs and those of future generations.

“That’s where mine and WRAP’s efforts will be focussed as we head into the next phase of our work. It means working closely with governments, businesses and individuals, with shared goals and actions identified. All to the benefit of the environment, economy and society as a whole.”

Big reductions

Under Goodwin’s leadership, WRAP has helped to highlight the benefits of accelerating the move to a sustainable, resource-efficient economy through re-inventing how we design, produce and sell products; re-thinking how we use and consume products; and re-defining what is possible through re-use and recycling.

Specifically, Goodwin has overseen the delivery of the Courtauld Commitment – which involves major retailers, brands and their supply chains – to deliver significant reductions in packaging despite growth in sales. The problem of food waste is also now more widely understood, with WRAP helping the UK to deliver a 21% reduction in avoidable food waste, since Goodwin became CEO in 2007.

As a regular blogger for edie, Goodwin has also helped to generate real discussion around how businesses can drive the sustainability movementthe long-term environmental benefits of the circular economy; and creating an environment for growth.

Timeline: WRAP milestones under Liz Goodwin’s leadership

  • 2007 – Liz Goodwin becomes CEO
  • 2007 – Love Food Hate Waste launches
  • 2008 – WRAP launches a new voluntary agreement for the UK construction industry – Halving Waste to Landfill commitment that aims to meet its objectives by 2012.
  • 2009 (January) – Since the launch of the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, WRAP identifies that consumers were saving £300 million worth of food going to waste, preventing 137,000 tonnes of food going to landfill.
  • 2009 (March) – The On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) scheme launches in response to research identifying a need to communicate better with consumers about what types of packaging can be recycled.
  • 2010 – Courtauld Commitment 2 (2010 – 2012) launches, that looked again at food and primary packaging waste, but also secondary and tertiary packaging, and supply chain waste.
  • 2011 (May) Date labels and storage guidance launches to help prevent food waste
  • 2011 (July) – £10 million anaerobic digestion fund launches
  • 2013 (May) – Courtauld Commitment 2 (2013 – 2015) launches which aims to further reduce the weight and carbon impact of household food waste, grocery product and packaging waste, both in the home and the UK grocery sector.
  • 2013 (September) – Trials of a food waste campaign taking place in West London Boroughs saves consumers over £1 million
  • 2013 (November) – Courtauld Commitment Phase 2 helps deliver over £3 billion in savings to the food industry
  • 2014 (February) – Love Your Clothes launches, and major retailers, fashion labels and textile producers in the clothing sector agree to cut environmental impact by 15%
  • 2014 (May) – First of its kind tool launched with UNEP to prevent food waste
  • 2014 (October) – WRAP extends its international reach as the campaign Love Food Hate Waste is set to roll out in Vancouver
  • 2014 (October) – Julie Hill is appointed as the new Chair
  • 2014 (November) – The Electronic and Electricals Sustainability Action Plan (esap) is set to revolutionise the electrical market, with over 50 signatories signing up
  • 2014 (December) – WRAP becomes a registered charity

Luke Nicholls

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