IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i16p7341-d1724153.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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. 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.
    2. 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).
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    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. Yang Li & Dingwen Zhang & Ying Wen & Xiaoling Liu & Yi Zhang & Guangmei Wang, 2024. "Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Factors of Carbon Footprint in Coastal Saline Cropland Ecosystems: A Case Study of the Yellow River Delta, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Qi, Danyi & Li, Ran & Penn, Jerrod & Houghtaling, Bailey & Prinyawiwatkul, Witoon & Roe, Brian E., 2021. "Does Nudging More Vegetable Consumption Result in More Waste? Evidence from a Randomized Dining Experiment," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313980, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Taotao Yang & Jixiang Zou & Longmei Wu & Xiaozhe Bao & Yu Jiang & Nan Zhang & Bin Zhang, 2024. "Experimental Warming Reduces the Grain Yield and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency of Double-Cropping indica Rice in South China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, June.
    4. Zhao, Zhanqing & Qin, Wei & Bai, Zhaohai & Ma, Lin, 2019. "Agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus emissions to water and their mitigation options in the Haihe Basin, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 262-272.
    5. Chen Liu & Trung Thang Nguyen, 2020. "Evaluation of Household Food Waste Generation in Hanoi and Policy Implications towards SDGs Target 12.3," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-20, August.
    6. Lu, Jie & Bai, Zhaohai & Velthof, Gerard L. & Wu, Zhiguo & Chadwick, David & Ma, Lin, 2019. "Accumulation and leaching of nitrate in soils in wheat-maize production in China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 407-415.
    7. 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.
    8. Lingfei Wang & Yuqin Yang & Guoyan Wang, 2022. "The Clean Your Plate Campaign: Resisting Table Food Waste in an Unstable World," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    9. 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.
    10. 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).
    11. Li, Mo & Fu, Qiang & Singh, Vijay P. & Liu, Dong & Li, Jiang, 2020. "Optimization of sustainable bioenergy production considering energy-food-water-land nexus and livestock manure under uncertainty," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    12. Zhang, Bangbang & Li, Xian & Chen, Haibin & Niu, Wenhao & Kong, Xiangbin & Yu, Qiang & Zhao, Minjuan & Xia, Xianli, 2022. "Identifying opportunities to close yield gaps in China by use of certificated cultivars to estimate potential productivity," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    13. 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.
    14. Qingzhen Zhu & Zhihao Zhu & Hengyuan Zhang & Yuanyuan Gao & Liping Chen, 2023. "Design of an Electronically Controlled Fertilization System for an Air-Assisted Side-Deep Fertilization Machine," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-12, November.
    15. Clara Cicatiello & Emanuele Blasi & Claudia Giordano & Angelo Martella & Silvio Franco, 2020. "“If only I Could Decide”: Opinions of Food Category Managers on in-Store Food Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-19, October.
    16. Jun Li & Jiali Xing & Rui Ding & Wenjiao Shi & Xiaoli Shi & Xiaoqing Wang, 2023. "Systematic Evaluation of Nitrogen Application in the Production of Multiple Crops and Its Environmental Impacts in Fujian Province, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, March.
    17. Qi, Danyi & Li, Ran & Penn, Jerrod & Houghtaling, Bailey & Prinyawiwatkul, Witoon & Roe, Brian E., 2022. "Nudging greater vegetable intake and less food waste: A field experiment," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    18. Aleksander Buczacki & Bartłomiej Gładysz & Erika Palmer, 2021. "HoReCa Food Waste and Sustainable Development Goals—A Systemic View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.
    19. Simin Deng & Xuezhi Tan & Bingjun Liu, 2025. "Impacts of changes in climate extremes on maize yields over Mainland China," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 17(1), pages 185-205, February.
    20. Mariarosaria Lombardi & Marco Costantino, 2021. "A Hierarchical Pyramid for Food Waste Based on a Social Innovation Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.

    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.