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Who Cleans the Plate? Quantity and Type of Food Waste in 78 Primary Schools’ Canteens in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Luca Falasconi

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Via G. Fanin, 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Matteo Boschini

    (Public Health Department of Bologna, Via Montebello, 6, 40121 Bologna, Italy)

  • Claudia Giordano

    (Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), 00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Clara Cicatiello

    (Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Alboni

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Via G. Fanin, 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Federico Nassivera

    (Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Tomadini, 30/a, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Stefania Troiano

    (Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Udine, Via Tomadini, 30/a, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Francesco Marangon

    (Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Udine, Via Tomadini, 30/a, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Andrea Segrè

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Via G. Fanin, 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Silvio Franco

    (Department of Economics, Engineering, Society, Business Organization, University of Tuscia, Via del Paradiso, 47, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

Abstract

In advanced economies, most food waste occurs at the downstream stages of the supply chain; within the EU, it has been estimated that 64.57% of food waste occurs at the consumption stage, with about 5.4 million tons (9.45% of the total) being generated in food service. This study aims to contribute to this stream of research by providing evidence about the quantity of food waste produced in Italian primary schools and discussing the results against the evidence available in other EU countries. This research is based on a large-scale study involving 78 primary schools and over 11,000 students for a total number of almost 110,000 monitored meals. The results show that the amount of food not consumed at lunch is 21.7% of the food prepared every day. Plate waste accounts for almost 90 g/day per capita and the total amount of wasted food, including unserved food, accounts for 117 g/day per capita. To our knowledge, this study represents the largest sample size monitored in Italy under the framework of the EC Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/1597 on food waste measurement. Given its scale and adherence to the EU’s standardized methodology, this dataset should serve as the reference data for Italy reported to Eurostat, as it is based on direct measurements rather than estimates or secondary data sources. This underscores the importance of systematic, comparable data collection for tracking progress on food waste reduction at both national and European levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Luca Falasconi & Matteo Boschini & Claudia Giordano & Clara Cicatiello & Fabrizio Alboni & Federico Nassivera & Stefania Troiano & Francesco Marangon & Andrea Segrè & Silvio Franco, 2025. "Who Cleans the Plate? Quantity and Type of Food Waste in 78 Primary Schools’ Canteens in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7836-:d:1738557
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicoletta Favuzzi & Paolo Trerotoli & Maria Grazia Forte & Nicola Bartolomeo & Gabriella Serio & Domenico Lagravinese & Francesco Vino, 2020. "Evaluation of an Alimentary Education Intervention on School Canteen Waste at a Primary School in Bari, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Jelena Lonska & Anda Zvaigzne & Inta Kotane & Inese Silicka & Lienite Litavniece & Sergejs Kodors & Juta Deksne & Aija Vonoga, 2022. "Plate Waste in School Catering in Rezekne, Latvia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-26, March.
    3. Luca Falasconi & Matteo Vittuari & Alessandro Politano & Andrea Segrè, 2015. "Food Waste in School Catering: An Italian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-16, November.
    4. Yao Liu & Shengkui Cheng & Xiaojie Liu & Xiaochang Cao & Li Xue & Gang Liu, 2016. "Plate Waste in School Lunch Programs in Beijing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-11, December.
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