"WRAP is instrumental in bringing together key players in the resource loop. WRAP's quality of research, best practice guides and campaign resources continue to be of huge value to councils - it saves us having to reinvent wheels", says Joy Blizzard, Chair of LARAC swinging in behind Andrew Bird's submission to the Defra consultation on the review of its funding for WRAP in England. Andrew's submission, on behalf of LARAC singled out the Love Food Hate Waste campaign as a particularly good example of a good campaign which spread best practice and provided a tool kit for the industry. Recently WRAP's scope has widened to encompass small and medium-sized enterprises as well as local authorities, but LARAC pointed out, there is very little will to make a financial contribution in return for the advice and support provided by WRAP. To cut funding to WRAP would have wide-ranging indirect effects. Andrew Bird concluded "We as a nation, need to deliver a circular economy and it is LARAC's view that it will not be delivered by purely market driven forces, and therefore needs the interaction of a well-structured and effective cross-cutting organisation such as WRAP".
Established in 2000, WRAP helps businesses to reduce waste, develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way. It is funded by Defra, the devolved administrations and the EU. In the current financial year, Defra is providing the bulk of the organisation’s funding - £25.74 million - but is seeking to reduce this.
