As the Government turns up the heat on environmental issues, the Food and Drink Federation has named Callton Young as its new director of sustainability and competitiveness.

Young, who takes up the position with immediate effect, has joined the FDF on a two-year secondment from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Only last week Whitehall called for retailers to do more to reduce food packaging, while minister of state for local environment Ben Bradshaw urged shoppers to dump excess packaging at supermarket checkouts and report cases to Trading Standards.

Recycling and packaging waste will be among the issues in Young's remit, as will continuing the FDF's work on the government's climate-change levy and food miles. The FDF has a number of Sustainable Development Guiding Principles to encourage the industry to minimise its impact on the environment. These include encouraging industry, government and other interested parties to discuss the development of policies on sustainable food production and consumption and encouraging industry to work with suppliers and others in the supply chain to maintain high environmental standards.

"Sustainability is a huge issue for the food industry," said FDF director general Melanie Leech. "FDF worked closely with Callton and Defra on the Government's Food Industry Sustainability Strategy and his knowledge in this area will help the FDF drive that agenda forward.

"He will also work on a raft of other environmental and trade issues that are vitally important for our members. We're delighted to have someone of his experience join the team."

At Defra Young held a number of senior roles, including head of its food and drink industry division.

Topics