UK food and drink manufacturers have reduced their carbon emissions by 19% – the equivalent of one million tonnes – since 1990, announced the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

As it launched its progress report for the second year of its Five-Fold Environmental Ambition, the FDF said that its members are “well on track” to achieving their goal of cutting CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010.

The FDF said its members were also on target to meet its long-term target of a 30% reduction by 2020.

Among its members is Premier Foods: its Hovis business has purchased 187 new vehicles which meet the new Euro emissions standards. Hovis has also worked on optimising its vehicle fill, with a 13% volume increase in products carried – saving 1,679,037 miles annually.

Burton’s Foods has conducted a full-scale water investigation across its sites, relative to the tonnes of product baked. By the end of the year the company expects to have saved around 73,000m3 through greater efficiencies.

United Biscuits has also been working to save water and, last year, achieved a 17% reduction. Its ultimate goal is to achieve a 25% reduction by 2020 compared with 2007 usage.