IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i10p5327-d551757.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental Assessment of Upgrading Horticultural Side Streams—The Case of Unharvested Broccoli Leaves

Author

Listed:
  • Mattias Eriksson

    (Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Box 7032, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Louise Bartek

    (Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Box 7032, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Klara Löfkvist

    (HIR Skåne AB, Borgeby Slottsväg 11, 237 91 Bjärred, Sweden)

  • Christopher Malefors

    (Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Box 7032, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Marie E. Olsson

    (Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22 Lomma, Sweden)

Abstract

To facilitate transition to a sustainable food system, it is necessary to address food losses. A large proportion of waste occurs during primary production, with large quantities of edible crop parts left in the field at harvest. One such product is broccoli, where normally only around one-third of the edible parts of the plant are harvested in Sweden. Much of the broccoli plant consists of edible leaves and this side stream represents an unused resource with great potential. This study assessed the potential environmental savings that can be achieved by utilising broccoli side streams as a powder in soups and bread. Consequential and attributional life cycle assessments were conducted, based on scenarios relevant for growers in southern Sweden. The results showed that the scenario with the largest saving potential was to process the broccoli side streams into a powder for use in broccoli soup. The main saving was due to substitution of imported broccoli powder, which was assumed to be produced from broccoli florets using a more fossil-based energy mix. The second best scenario was to use the side-stream broccoli powder as a wheat substitute in bread but, since wheat flour is less resource-demanding than imported broccoli powder, the emission savings were lower in this case. However, replacing wheat flour with a vegetable-based product could provide additional health benefits that are important in achieving a healthy, locally available, and environmentally friendly diet suitable for a sustainable food system.

Suggested Citation

  • Mattias Eriksson & Louise Bartek & Klara Löfkvist & Christopher Malefors & Marie E. Olsson, 2021. "Environmental Assessment of Upgrading Horticultural Side Streams—The Case of Unharvested Broccoli Leaves," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:10:p:5327-:d:551757
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/10/5327/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/10/5327/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mª Eugenia López‐Pérez & Iguácel Melero & F Javier Sese, 2017. "Management for Sustainable Development and Its Impact on Firm Value in the SME Context: Does Size Matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(7), pages 985-999, November.
    2. Johnson, Lisa K. & Dunning, Rebecca D. & Gunter, Chris C. & Dara Bloom, J. & Boyette, Michael D. & Creamer, Nancy G., 2018. "Field measurement in vegetable crops indicates need for reevaluation of on-farm food loss estimates in North America," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 136-142.
    3. Ishtiaq Ahmed & Muhammad Anjum Zia & Huma Afzal & Shaheez Ahmed & Muhammad Ahmad & Zain Akram & Farooq Sher & Hafiz M. N. Iqbal, 2021. "Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Biomass Valorisation: A Strategic Drive for Sustainable Bioeconomy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-32, April.
    4. Ola Eriksson, 2017. "Energy and Waste Management," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-7, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maria-Angeles Fernandez-Zamudio & Héctor Barco & Felicitas Schneider, 2020. "Direct Measurement of Mass and Economic Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses in Spanish Persimmon Primary Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Chhatwani, Malvika & Mishra, Sushanta Kumar & Varma, Arup & Rai, Himanshu, 2022. "Psychological resilience and business survival chances: A study of small firms in the USA during COVID-19," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 277-286.
    3. Pauline Bergström & Christopher Malefors & Ingrid Strid & Ole Jørgen Hanssen & Mattias Eriksson, 2020. "Sustainability Assessment of Food Redistribution Initiatives in Sweden," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-27, March.
    4. Rodríguez-Espíndola, Oscar & Cuevas-Romo, Ana & Chowdhury, Soumyadeb & Díaz-Acevedo, Natalie & Albores, Pavel & Despoudi, Stella & Malesios, Chrisovalantis & Dey, Prasanta, 2022. "The role of circular economy principles and sustainable-oriented innovation to enhance social, economic and environmental performance: Evidence from Mexican SMEs," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    5. Magdalena Bogacka & Nikolina Poranek & Beata Łaźniewska-Piekarczyk & Krzysztof Pikoń, 2020. "Removal of Pollutants from Secondary Waste from an Incineration Plant: The Review of Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-17, November.
    6. Chrisovalantis Malesios & Antonis Skouloudis & Prasanta Kumar Dey & Fouad Ben Abdelaziz & Apostolos Kantartzis & Konstantinos Evangelinos, 2018. "Impact of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises sustainability practices and performance on economic growth from a managerial perspective: Modeling considerations and empirical analysis results," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(7), pages 960-972, November.
    7. Kelsey D. Meagher & Anne Gillman & David C. Campbell & Edward S. Spang, 2020. "Relational and Logistical Dimensions of Agricultural Food Recovery: Evidence from California Growers and Recovery Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-18, July.
    8. Adelaide Martins & Manuel Castelo Branco & Pedro Novo Melo & Carolina Machado, 2022. "Sustainability in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-26, May.
    9. Mercedes Rubio‐Andrés & María del Mar Ramos‐González & Miguel Ángel Sastre‐Castillo & Ignacio Danvila‐del‐Valle, 2020. "Exploring sustainability, good governance, and social responsibility in small and medium enterprises," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 852-869, March.
    10. Walid Cheffi & Ahmed Abdel-Maksoud & Muhammad Omer Farooq, 2021. "CSR initiatives, organizational performance and the mediating role of integrating CSR into management control systems: Testing an inclusive model within SMEs in an emerging economy," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 32(3), pages 333-367, September.
    11. Grażyna Kędzia & Barbara Ocicka & Aneta Pluta-Zaremba & Marta Raźniewska & Jolanta Turek & Beata Wieteska-Rosiak, 2022. "Social Innovations for Improving Compostable Packaging Waste Management in CE: A Multi-Solution Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, December.
    12. Mumin Dayan & Poh Yen Ng & Nelson Oly Ndubisi, 2019. "Mindfulness, socioemotional wealth, and environmental strategy of family businesses," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 466-481, March.
    13. Ikechukwu Kingsley Opara & Olaniyi Amos Fawole & Candice Kelly & Umezuruike Linus Opara, 2021. "Quantification of On-Farm Pomegranate Fruit Postharvest Losses and Waste, and Implications on Sustainability Indicators: South African Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, May.
    14. Qi, Danyi & Penn, Jerrod & Li, Ran & Roe, Brian E., 2022. "Winning ugly: Profit maximizing marketing strategies for ugly foods," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    15. Linda Westman & Christopher Luederitz & Aravind Kundurpi & Alexander Julian Mercado & Olaf Weber & Sarah Lynne Burch, 2019. "Conceptualizing businesses as social actors: A framework for understanding sustainability actions in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 388-402, February.
    16. Anne P. M. Velenturf, 2021. "A Framework and Baseline for the Integration of a Sustainable Circular Economy in Offshore Wind," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-41, September.
    17. Eriksson, Mattias & Ghosh, Ranjan & Mattsson, Lisa & Ismatov, Alisher, 2017. "Take-back agreements in the perspective of food waste generation at the supplier-retailer interface," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 83-93.
    18. Atilgan Atilgan & Anna Krakowiak-Bal & Hasan Ertop & Burak Saltuk & Mateusz Malinowski, 2023. "The Energy Potential of Waste from Banana Production: A Case Study of the Mediterranean Region," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-13, July.
    19. Giovanni Mondello & Roberta Salomone & Giuseppe Ioppolo & Giuseppe Saija & Sergio Sparacia & Maria Claudia Lucchetti, 2017. "Comparative LCA of Alternative Scenarios for Waste Treatment: The Case of Food Waste Production by the Mass-Retail Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-18, May.
    20. Ren Jie Zhang & Brian Lee & Hung-Hao Chang, 2019. "What Is Missing in Food Loss and Waste Analyses? A Close Look at Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Markets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-13, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:10:p:5327-:d:551757. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.