New Circular Bioeconomy Business Models for Fruit and Vegetable Waste Valorisation

Abstract

One of the world’s agrifood system major challenges on the road to sustainability is the prevention of waste. About one third of all food produced is lost or wasted. The fruit and vegetable sector is particularly concerned, because these crops are highly perishable and also contain substantial non-edible parts. Here, business models that valorise fruit and vegetable waste and by-products via circular and sustainable bioeconomy approaches are reviewed. Drivers and waste conversion strategies towards new value propositions and markets are studied. In total, 47 international cases are analysed regarding their business model types, drivers and business model elements, and contribution to sustainable development, based on data gathered from an extensive online search mainly of company websites and reports. Results indicate that worldwide, numerous predominantly micro product and service enterprises have emerged recently, driven by concerns about food waste within a larger circular and sustainable bioeconomy debate. The businesses principally target the highest added-value via redistribution and upcycling strategies, or, if not feasible, recycling and recovering. The contribution to sustainable solutions – along economic, environmental and social dimensions – via business activities and new value propositions is in general explicitly communicated on the firm’s websites, referring to their role in a responsible society.