The Food Waste Action Week aims to link organisations across the food supply chain to stop food going to waste and curb the contribution it makes to climate change.

The campaign already has 26 strategic partners and 41 supporting partners signed up. Some of the strategic partners include Premier Food, Sodexo and Unilever.

Marcus Gover, chief executive of WRAP, said: “Wasting food is a major cause of climate change – it generates more greenhouse gas emissions than all the commercial flights in the world.

“I’m delighted to be launching the first UK Food Waste Action Week in March, and to have such strong support from our partners across sectors. Together we will inspire real and lasting change.

“Food Waste Action Week gives organisations a unique opportunity to capture their customers’ attention as part of a national event and help them to play their part in eliminating food being wasted and tackling climate change.”

Despite the ongoing lockdown, the Food Waste Action Week will ask the public to take part in a challenge to reduce their household food waste. By focussing on a different theme each day, from food storage to portion planning, it is hoped people can reduce their food waste.

Government Food Waste Champion Ben Elliot, added: “I am passionate about cutting food waste. It has a huge carbon footprint, particularly in terms of the amount of energy used for its production, manufacture, storage and often unnecessary disposal.

“Food Waste Action Week will be a key vehicle for raising awareness amongst the public, the food industry and the retail sector about just how much food is wasted every year, the impact it has on the planet, and how we can all help to tackle it.”