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Environmental, Economic, and Nutritional Impact of Food Waste in a Portuguese University Canteen

Author

Listed:
  • Nicol Martinho

    (School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Liliana Cheng

    (School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Isabel Bentes

    (C-MADE—Centre of Materials and Building Technologies, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Carlos A. Teixeira

    (School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    CITAB—Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Envrionmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Sofia Sousa Silva

    (School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Margarida Liz Martins

    (CITAB—Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Envrionmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    Coimbra Health School, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal
    GreenUPorto—Sustainable Agrifood Production Research Centre, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

High food waste values have been reported in university canteens in different countries. This study aims to evaluate food waste related to the consumption stage in a Portuguese university canteen and its environmental, economic, and nutritional impact. Data collection was performed at a Portuguese university with about 7000 students. Food waste (leftovers and plate waste) was assessed over 10 days by physical weighing. The Ecological Footprint Accounting methodology was used, combined with an assessment of the ecological footprint. The energy and nutritional contents of meals wasted were estimated using the software Nutrium ® 4.0. The economic impact of food waste was obtained considering the daily meal price. During study period, 4374 meals were evaluated, corresponding to 1599 kg of food produced. A total of 189.5 kg of food was wasted, being higher for plate waste (164.1 kg) than for leftovers (25.3 kg). The meat group presented the highest total waste value (78.1 kg). Daily food waste represented an economic loss of €140 and an ecological footprint of 0.1 gha. About 8% of energy, 11% of protein, 9% of fat, and 5% of carbohydrates were lost per meal. The high food waste values observed (about 13.4%) estimate a monthly economic loss of €3080, an ecological footprint of 2.8 gha, and a total food waste of 417 kg.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicol Martinho & Liliana Cheng & Isabel Bentes & Carlos A. Teixeira & Sofia Sousa Silva & Margarida Liz Martins, 2022. "Environmental, Economic, and Nutritional Impact of Food Waste in a Portuguese University Canteen," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:15608-:d:982310
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Iva Pires & Jerusa Machado & Ada Rocha & Margarida Liz Martins, 2022. "Food Waste Perception of Workplace Canteen Users—A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-12, January.
    3. David Lin & Laurel Hanscom & Adeline Murthy & Alessandro Galli & Mikel Evans & Evan Neill & Maria Serena Mancini & Jon Martindill & Fatime-Zahra Medouar & Shiyu Huang & Mathis Wackernagel, 2018. "Ecological Footprint Accounting for Countries: Updates and Results of the National Footprint Accounts, 2012–2018," Resources, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-22, September.
    4. Ewa Czarniecka-Skubina & Hanna Górska-Warsewicz & Wacław Laskowski & Maria Jeznach, 2019. "Consumer Choices and Service Quality in the University Canteens in Warsaw, Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-19, October.
    5. Mancini, Maria Serena & Galli, Alessandro & Coscieme, Luca & Niccolucci, Valentina & Lin, David & Pulselli, Federico Maria & Bastianoni, Simone & Marchettini, Nadia, 2018. "Exploring ecosystem services assessment through Ecological Footprint accounting," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 30(PB), pages 228-235.
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