Nestlé, Unilever, Kraft Heinz and Premier Foods are just some of the food companies that have signed a U.K. initiative to cut food waste by 50 percent.

Some 90 U.K. food industry organizations — including producers, manufacturers and retailers — have committed to cutting food waste in half. The brands signed up to the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, developed by sustainable resources charity WRAP and food and grocery industry research and training charity IGD.

The charities revealed all major retailers and 50 percent of larger food businesses have signed up to the initiative to drive down the UK's annual GBP 20 bn (US $26.33 bn) food waste bill. 

By September 2019, the first major milestone on the roadmap, the aim is to have 50 percent of the U.K.'s largest 250 food businesses measuring, reporting and acting on food waste with all 250 companies doing so by 2026. 

The initiative reveals the actions large businesses will take to address food waste both in their own operations and by working to support their suppliers. It also sets out how these businesses can engage with consumers to help reduce their food waste. 

The roadmap builds on existing food waste reduction schemes and has the support of the U.K.'s largest food trade bodies and the U.K., Welsh and Scottish Governments.