IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i16p7341-d1724153.html

Evaluation of Nutrient Loss and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Caused by Food Loss and Waste in China

Author

Listed:
  • Chun Chen

    (Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Yiman Fang

    (Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
    Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Southwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Xiaozhong Wang

    (Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
    Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Southwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

Abstract

Food loss and waste (FLW) impose major nutritional and environmental costs globally. This comprehensive China-wide study quantifies FLW-driven nutrient depletion and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire supply chain. Using national-scale modeling with China-specific data, we found that FLW in 2022 reached 415 million tons (i.e., 21.4% of total production was lost/wasted), generating 281 Mt CO 2 -eq. Daily per capita FLW at 757 kcal (29.7% of recommended intake lost/wasted), 28.4 g protein (43.7%), and 114 mg vitamin C (14%) dissipated significant nutrients. Using the Wasted Nutrient Days metric, 72–416 days of varying nutrient adult needs were lost, worsening malnutrition burdens. The key node along the supply chain leading to high FLW is postharvest handling and storage (responsible for 49% of FLW mass and emissions), while vegetables/cereals (mass loss quantities) and meat-based foods (high emission intensity) were the most lost/wasted food types. Scenario analysis shows that combining optimized diets and supply chain improvements could reduce FLW by 503 g/capita/day and emissions by 62.2%, closing nutritional gaps and supporting carbon neutrality.

Suggested Citation

  • Chun Chen & Yiman Fang & Xiaozhong Wang, 2025. "Evaluation of Nutrient Loss and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Caused by Food Loss and Waste in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:16:p:7341-:d:1724153
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7341/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7341/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. C. Rita Chen & Rachel J. C. Chen, 2018. "Using Two Government Food Waste Recognition Programs to Understand Current Reducing Food Loss and Waste Activities in the U.S," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Xinping Chen & Zhenling Cui & Mingsheng Fan & Peter Vitousek & Ming Zhao & Wenqi Ma & Zhenlin Wang & Weijian Zhang & Xiaoyuan Yan & Jianchang Yang & Xiping Deng & Qiang Gao & Qiang Zhang & Shiwei Guo , 2014. "Producing more grain with lower environmental costs," Nature, Nature, vol. 514(7523), pages 486-489, October.
    3. Reynolds, Christian & Goucher, Liam & Quested, Tom & Bromley, Sarah & Gillick, Sam & Wells, Victoria K. & Evans, David & Koh, Lenny & Carlsson Kanyama, Annika & Katzeff, Cecilia & Svenfelt, Åsa & Jack, 2019. "Review: Consumption-stage food waste reduction interventions – What works and how to design better interventions," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 7-27.
    4. Chaboud, Géraldine & Moustier, Paule, 2021. "The role of diverse distribution channels in reducing food loss and waste: The case of the Cali tomato supply chain in Colombia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    5. Abbade, Eduardo Botti, 2020. "Estimating the nutritional loss and the feeding potential derived from food losses worldwide," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    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. Bruna Moreira & Alexandre Gonçalves & Luís Pinto & Miguel A. Prieto & Márcio Carocho & Cristina Caleja & Lillian Barros, 2024. "Intercropping Systems: An Opportunity for Environment Conservation within Nut Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-23, July.
    2. Siyu Zhang & Zhe Ji & Wu Jiao & Chengbo Shen & Yaojun Qin & Yunzhi Huang & Menghan Huang & Shuming Kang & Xuan Liu & Shunqi Li & Zulong Mo & Ying Yu & Bingyu Jiang & Yanan Tian & Longfei Wang & Qingxi, 2025. "Natural variation of OsWRKY23 drives difference in nitrate use efficiency between indica and japonica rice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. EiÄ aitÄ—, Ovidija & Baležentis, Tomas & RibaÅ¡auskienÄ—, Erika & MorkÅ«nas, Mangirdas & MelnikienÄ—, Rasa & Å treimikienÄ—, Dalia, 2022. "Food waste in the retail sector: A survey-based evidence from Central and Eastern Europe," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    4. Cătălina Chinie & Isabelle Biclesanu & Francesco Bellini, 2021. "The Impact of Awareness Campaigns on Combating the Food Wasting Behavior of Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-17, October.
    5. Post Lori & Schmitz Andrew & Issa Tariq & Oehmke James, 2021. "Enabling the Environment for Private Sector Investment: Impact on Food Security and Poverty," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 19(1), pages 25-37, May.
    6. Maria Elena Latino & Marta Menegoli & Martina De Giovanni, 2021. "Evaluating the Sustainability Dimensions in the Food Supply Chain: Literature Review and Research Routes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, October.
    7. Luo, Na & Olsen, Tava & Liu, Yanping & Zhang, Abraham, 2022. "Reducing food loss and waste in supply chain operations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    8. Zhao, Rongqin & Liu, Ying & Tian, Mengmeng & Ding, Minglei & Cao, Lianhai & Zhang, Zhanping & Chuai, Xiaowei & Xiao, Liangang & Yao, Lunguang, 2018. "Impacts of water and land resources exploitation on agricultural carbon emissions: The water-land-energy-carbon nexus," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 480-492.
    9. Eulalia Skawińska & Romuald I. Zalewski & Joanna Wyrwa, 2023. "Students’ Food Consumption Behavior during COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-28, June.
    10. Efrat Elimelech & Eyal Ert & Ofira Ayalon, 2019. "Exploring the Drivers behind Self-Reported and Measured Food Wastage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Wang, Linlin & Li, Lingling & Xie, Junhong & Luo, Zhuzhu & Sumera, Anwar & Zechariah, Effah & Fudjoe, Setor Kwami & Palta, Jairo A. & Chen, Yinglong, 2022. "Does plastic mulching reduce water footprint in field crops in China? A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    12. Christina Marouli, 2024. "Food waste interventions: Barriers on the way to sustainable food systems," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 367-380, February.
    13. Wei Yan & Meng Huang & Huiqing Yang & Zhonghua Wang & Shujuan Sun & Yinshan Xie & Jinbian Sun & Qiong Li & Bo Liu & Chengcheng Gao & Yanfang Xue & Kaichang Liu, 2025. "Controlled-Release Urea Coordinates Maize Physiology with Soil Nitrogen Retention: Balancing High Yield and Environmental Sustainability," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
    14. Matteo Vittuari & Luca Falasconi & Matteo Masotti & Simone Piras & Andrea Segrè & Marco Setti, 2020. "‘Not in My Bin’: Consumer’s Understanding and Concern of Food Waste Effects and Mitigating Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-23, July.
    15. Adriana Antón-Peset & Maria-Angeles Fernandez-Zamudio & Tatiana Pina, 2021. "Promoting Food Waste Reduction at Primary Schools. A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    16. 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.
    17. Cattaneo, Andrea & Sánchez, Marco V. & Torero, Máximo & Vos, Rob, 2021. "Reducing food loss and waste: Five challenges for policy and research," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    18. Wang, Xiaolong & Chen, Yuanquan & Sui, Peng & Yan, Peng & Yang, Xiaolei & Gao, Wangsheng, 2017. "Preliminary analysis on economic and environmental consequences of grain production on different farm sizes in North China Plain," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 181-189.
    19. Ludovica Principato & Alessio Leo & Giovanni Mattia & Carlo Alberto Pratesi, 2021. "The next step in sustainable dining: the restaurant food waste map for the management of food waste," Italian Journal of Marketing, Springer, vol. 2021(3), pages 189-207, September.
    20. Xu, Meng & Wang, Xiaoxi & Chen, Kevin, 2025. "Leveraging agricultural production organizations to reduce fertilizer use: Evidence from China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:17:y:2025:i:16:p:7341-:d:1724153. 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.