The Prince of Wales launches ‘Waste to Wealth’ commitment

A summit, attended by HRH the Prince of Wales, has brought together companies to sign a plastic waste agreement.

Business in the Community, part of the Prince’s Responsible Business Network, brought together over 200 leaders from business, government, academia and civil society. The ‘Waste to Wealth’ commitment was signed by Sky, Thames Water, Iceland and Heineken.

The commitment will ensure that these companies work collectively to help double the nation’s resource productivity and reduce avoidable waste by 2030. They are required to set targets to improve the productivity that are key for business.

When signing the agreement, businesses will also have to acknowledge the recent IPCC report, stating we only have 12 years to ensure we make the necessary changes to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, said: “I commend Business in the Community, and the companies committing to work towards a more circular economy. We need to cut avoidable waste and start looking at the waste we do produce as a valuable resource. Today builds on the excellent work that HRH the Prince of Wales has done to raise environmental issues over many decades and help to drive real change.”

The Prince of Wales has previously pledged his commitment to reduce plastic waste.

Amanda Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said: “HRH the Prince of Wales and Business in the Community’s Royal Founding Patron has been shining a light on plastic pollution and our throwaway culture since the 1970s.”

Photograph: Clarence House/BITC