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A combined framework for the life cycle assessment and costing of food waste prevention and valorization: an application to school canteens

Author

Listed:
  • Fabio Menna

    (University of Bologna)

  • Jennifer Davis

    (Research Institutes of Sweden, Agrifood and Bioscience, Forskningsbyn Ideon)

  • Karin Östergren

    (Research Institutes of Sweden, Agrifood and Bioscience, Forskningsbyn Ideon)

  • Nicole Unger

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU))

  • Marion Loubiere

    (Deloitte Sustainability)

  • Matteo Vittuari

    (University of Bologna)

Abstract

About one third of global edible food is lost or wasted along the supply chain, causing the wastage of embedded natural and economic resources. Life cycle methodologies can be applied to identify sustainable and viable prevention and valorization routes needed to prevent such inefficiencies. However, no systemic approach has been developed so far to guide practitioners and stakeholders. Specifically, the goal and scoping phase (e.g. problem assessed or system function) can be characterized by a large flexibility, and the comparability between food waste scenarios could be not ensured. Within the Horizon2020 project Resource Efficient Food and dRink for the Entire Supply cHain, this study aimed to provide practitioners with guidance on how to combine life cycle assessment and environmental life cycle costing in the context of food waste. Recent literature was reviewed to identify relevant methodological aspects, possible commonly adopted approaches, main differences among studies and standards and protocols, main challenges, and knowledge gaps. Basing on this review, an analytical framework with a set of recommendations was developed encompassing different assessment situations. The framework intends to provide a step by step guidance for food waste practitioners, and it is composed of a preliminary section on study purpose definition, three decision trees—respectively on assessment situation(s), costing approach, and type of study (footprint vs. intervention)—and two sets of recommendations. Recommendations can be applied to all levels of the food waste hierarchy, stating a generic order of preference for handling food chain side flows. This consistent and integrated life cycle approach should ensure a better understanding of the impact of specific interventions, thus supporting informed private and public decision making and promoting the design of sustainable and cost-efficient interventions and a more efficient food supply chains.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Menna & Jennifer Davis & Karin Östergren & Nicole Unger & Marion Loubiere & Matteo Vittuari, 2020. "A combined framework for the life cycle assessment and costing of food waste prevention and valorization: an application to school canteens," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agfoec:v:8:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1186_s40100-019-0148-2
    DOI: 10.1186/s40100-019-0148-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cerutti, Alessandro K. & Contu, Simone & Ardente, Fulvio & Donno, Dario & Beccaro, Gabriele L., 2016. "Carbon footprint in green public procurement: Policy evaluation from a case study in the food sector," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 82-93.
    2. Matteo Vittuari & Fabio De Menna & Marco Pagani, 2016. "The Hidden Burden of Food Waste: The Double Energy Waste in Italy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-24, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. K. Mostaghimi & J. Behnamian, 2023. "Waste minimization towards waste management and cleaner production strategies: a literature review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 12119-12166, November.
    3. Laura Brenes-Peralta & María F. Jiménez-Morales & Rooel Campos-Rodríguez & Fabio De Menna & Matteo Vittuari, 2020. "Decision-Making Process in the Circular Economy: A Case Study on University Food Waste-to-Energy Actions in Latin America," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-25, May.
    4. Do, Quynh & Ramudhin, Amar & Colicchia, Claudia & Creazza, Alessandro & Li, Dong, 2021. "A systematic review of research on food loss and waste prevention and management for the circular economy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    5. Aino Friman & Nina Hyytiä, 2022. "The Economic and Welfare Effects of Food Waste Reduction on a Food-Production-Driven Rural Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Wafaurahman Wafa & Amir Hamzah Sharaai & Nitanan Koshy Matthew & Sabrina Abdullah J Ho & Noor Ahmad Akhundzada, 2022. "Organizational Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (OLCSA) for a Higher Education Institution as an Organization: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-29, February.
    7. Benedetta Esposito & Maria Rosaria Sessa & Daniela Sica & Ornella Malandrino, 2020. "Towards Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector. A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    8. Valentina Gomes Haensel Schmitt & Mirza Marvel Cequea & Jessika Milagros Vásquez Neyra & Marcos Ferasso, 2021. "Consumption Behavior and Residential Food Waste during the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, March.
    9. Caterina Contini & Giuseppe Marotta & Biancamaria Torquati, 2020. "Multi-actor approaches to implement cooperative strategies and value chains based on sustainability," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-4, December.

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