Waste Prevention Research Articles

Environment Performance Index Assessment on Food Production: A Case Study in Indonesia

Green Productivity (GP) is a strategy to increase production output while protecting the environment. The application of GP is a tool to evaluate the quality of the environment. For instance, an industry of crispy fried chicken drains the chicken's wash water, pours cooking oil, and slurries down the drain. It will diminish water quality. This research aims to assess Environment Performance Index (EPI) and prevent environmental damage by creating crispy chicken. The initial step must be identifying waste, creating a material balance diagram, calculating EPI and productivity, and proposing alternatives. This research indicates that pollution levels in this industry are extremely high. Environmental Service testing of production wastewater revealed BOD values of 769mg/l, COD values of 1699mg/l, TSS values of 2536mg/l, and an EPI Index of -31,05 exceed government standards. The result indicates that production enhancements must continue. In addition, this research generated some waste prevention alternatives, such as constructing a grease trap.

The Plastic Pathfinder: A macroplastic transport and fate model for terrestrial environments

Land-based plastic waste is the major source for freshwater and marine plastic pollution. Yet, the transport pathways over land remain highly uncertain. Here, we introduce a new conceptual model to forecast plastic transport on land: the Plastic Pathfinder; a numerical model that simulates the spatiotemporal distribution of macroplastic (>0.5 cm) at a river basin scale. The plastic transport driving forces are wind and surface runoff, while plastic transport is resisted by terrain surface friction. The terrain surface friction, a function of the slope and land use, is converted into thresholds that define the critical wind and surface runoff conditions required to mobilize and transport macroplastic waste. When the wind and/or surface runoff conditions exceed their respective thresholds, the model simulates the transport and (re)distribution of plastics, resulting in plastic accumulation hotspots maps and high probability transport route maps. The Plastic Pathfinder contributes to a better mechanistic understanding of plastic transport through terrestrial environments, and upon future calibration and validation, can serve as a practical tool to optimize plastic waste prevention, mitigation, and reduction strategies.

Transcriptomic analysis of CO2-treated strawberries (Fragaria vesca) with enhanced resistance to softening and oxidative stress at consumption.

One of the greatest threats to wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca Mara des Bois) after harvest is the highly perishability at ambient temperature. Breeders have successfully met the quality demands of consumers, but the prevention of waste after harvest in fleshy fruits is still pending. Most of the waste is due to the accelerated progress of senescence-like process after harvest linked to a rapid loss of water and firmness at ambient temperature. The storage life of strawberries increases at low temperature, but their quality is limited by the loss of cell structure. The application of high CO2 concentrations increased firmness during cold storage. However, the key genes related to resistance to softening and cell wall disassembly following transference from cold storage at 20°C remain unclear. Therefore, we performed RNA-seq analysis, constructing a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify which molecular determinants play a role in cell wall integrity, using strawberries with contrasting storage conditions, CO2-cold stored (CCS), air-cold stored (ACS), non-cold stored (NCS) kept at ambient temperature, and intact fruit at harvest (AH). The hub genes associated with the cell wall structural architecture of firmer CO2-treated strawberries revealed xyloglucans stabilization attributed mainly to a down-regulation of Csl E1, XTH 15, Exp-like B1 and the maintenance of expression levels of nucleotide sugars transferases such as GMP and FUT as well as improved lamella integrity linked to a down-regulation of RG-lyase, PL-like and PME. The preservation of cell wall elasticity together with the up-regulation of LEA, EXPA4, and MATE, required to maintain cell turgor, is the mechanisms controlled by high CO2. In stressed air-cold stored strawberries, in addition to an acute softening, there is a preferential transcript accumulation of genes involved in lignin and raffinose pathways. Non-cold stored strawberries kept at 20°C after harvest are characterized by an enrichment in genes mainly involved in oxidative stress and up-expression of genes involved in jasmonate biosynthesis. The present results on transcriptomic analysis of CO2-treated strawberries with enhanced resistance to softening and oxidative stress at consumption will help to improve breeding strategies of both wild and cultivated strawberries.

Food choice motives and dining-out leftover prevention behavior: Integrated perspectives of planned behavior and norm activation

To help solve the global food waste crisis, this study focuses on the mechanism of food choice motives and dining-out leftover prevention behavior. Based on theory of planned behavior and norm activation theory, this study presents a research model with food choice motives, intention to avoid food waste, social norm, and dining-out leftover prevention behavior. A total of 978 valid survey responses were gathered from restaurant customers in Taiwan. Analytical results show that food choice motives are positively related to intention to avoid food waste, and intention to avoid food waste is positively related to dining-out leftover prevention behavior. Furthermore, intention to avoid food waste mediates the relationships between food choice motives and dining-out leftover prevention behavior. This study also finds significant moderating effects of social norm on the effects of price sensitivity and ethical concern on intention to avoid food waste.

New Circular Bioeconomy Business Models for Fruit and Vegetable Waste Valorisation

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.

Bounce back of almost wasted food: Redistribution of fresh fruit and vegetables surpluses from Istanbul's supermarkets

In recent years, there has been growing international consensus to prioritize food waste prevention. Addressing the prevention interventions of food waste re-emphasizes the requirement of reducing and ‘rescuing’ food surplus which would otherwise be wasted. Redistribution of surplus food is one of the ways to prevent potential food waste in supermarkets. This research, handling fresh fruit and vegetables surplus, attempts to provide an assessment of the food waste prevention intervention in retail stores thanks to redistribution. Data on surplus food rescued is collected from 97 stores in Istanbul metropolitan city and prevented food waste represents the surplus food that is sent to landfills at other times. The results show that it is possible to prevent 60% of fresh fruit and vegetable waste via redistribution of surplus food. In this article, life cycle assessment was used to compare the environmental impacts of the baseline situation where surplus food is redistributed with those linked to waste treatment scenarios. Analyzing 528.8 tons of surplus fruit and vegetables generated in 97 stores over 18 months, the environmental impacts avoided by redistributing surplus food were found to be: 375.1*10³ CO2-eq, 209.5*10³ m3 water, 135.8*104 MJ. The avoided economic impact was at a minimum of 1.42 million Turkish Liras (worth US $186,817 in 2020). Assessing food waste prevention interventions based on life cycle thinking with data from real-life cases would encourage such initiatives by identified environmental and economic benefits. This study has revealed that the potential of surplus food in supermarkets has not yet been noticed in countries which have no special legislation as Turkey. The results obtained by the research could be used by and help policymakers and the private sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals concerning food loss and waste reduction targets at the retail level.

Environmental photochemistry with thiol- and silica-modified plasmonic nanocomposites: SERS sensing of municipal solid waste and tannery waste leachate from groundwater.

Mismanagement of obsolete solid waste generates a massive deteriorating effect on the environment. There is a high level of open trash disposal contaminating its neighboring water bodies. This despoliation trash causes an endangerment to the living environment. The waste management act is to hinder harmful effects on human beings, animals, plants, and their natural environment through the principles of waste prevention, waste processing, and waste disposal. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhances the hazardous chemical sensing of environmental pollutants. To vigorously focus on the leaching of a couple of landfills in groundwater and surface water, an unusual combination of SERS-based poly vinyl thiol and silica-modified silver nanocomposites (PVT/SiO2@Ag NCs) was synthesized. The optical, crystalline, and structural properties of PVT/SiO2@Ag NCs were described with UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is detected at 403nm from the PVT/SiO2@Ag NPs. The average crystallite size of PVT/SiO2 @ Ag NCs is estimated using the Scherrer formula as 11nm. The calculated specific surface area (SSA), strains, and dislocation densities demonstrate the improved mechanical properties of the substrate. The well-separated spherical shape of NPs is also observed, and the composition of silica and sulfur element in addition of Ag was confirmed by EDAX. Negatively charged SiO2 were bound strongly with the SH group and Ag NPs through electrostatic interaction mechanism as S-Ag-O-Si-O-Ag-S. SERS sensitivity is demonstrated by the prepared nanoparticles using an environmentally ignored leachate of municipal solid waste (MSW) and tannery waste (TW) landfill. PVT/SiO2@Ag NCs has detected the presence of innards of MSW leachate viz., aromatic hydrocarbon, phenols, phthalates, and pesticide from the groundwater. Furthermore, the TW leachate compositions of benzenes, hydrocarbons, amines, and chromium VI were analytically identified. Also, the leaching of TW leachate was confirmed in the water samples referred. Hence, this study provides a novel SERS sensor of PVT/SiO2@Ag NCs in the tile to detect and analyze environmentally ignored organic and inorganic compounds.

Explanations of the political gridlock behind international circular economy: Waste Ban narratives in the China-EU cooperation

China and the European Union (EU) signed the first international circular economy (CE) agreement shortly after China issued the ‘Waste Ban’ (WB) on the import of 24 categories of solid waste. While the WB gained global attention, limited research addresses its political implications for international CE. Based on 72 expert interviews, 52 documents and participant observation, we study political WB narratives and corresponding perceptions of ‘Chinese’ and ‘European’ agency in the China-EU case. Our results show a political gridlock in China-EU CE coordination: the main narratives on the WB diverge on the very roles and rules of CE cooperation, scales of implementation, and the assessment criteria for environmentally and socially sustainable CE(s). To enable fruitful CE cooperation, we suggest three critical points for reflection and negotiation: (1) overcome ‘student–teacher’ roles rooted in linear development that run counter to CE ideas; (2) reconsider the focus on international and national waste diversion, instead of local waste prevention, that propels global waste markets sustained by increasing waste volumes; and (3) evaluate both the benefits and impediments of (new) trade relations for a CE cooperation that contributes to environmental and social sustainability.

Competitive Green Supply Chain Transformation with Dynamic Capabilities—An Exploratory Case Study of Chinese Electronics Industry

Extant studies identify different strategic approaches for businesses to integrate environment management (EM) into corporate supply chain management (SCM) to create different competitive market advantages. With increasing market uncertainties, stakeholder complexities, constraints of resources, companies nowadays are required to develop more context-specific solutions for mitigating sustainability risk and improving market performance in supply chain sustainability practices. To address the challenges faced by businesses, this study aims to explore how a company adapts green supply chain strategies for a competitive transformation. Specifically, we aim to identify different green supply chain capabilities that form hybrid choices of green solutions for a company to leverage an adaptive green shift. Through an extensive literature review, this study proposes a conceptual framework for exploration which is based on a qualitative in-depth case study in the electronics industry—one of the most polluting manufacturing sectors in China. The findings show that supply chain characteristics play a significant role in the selection of different green SCM solutions by businesses. We find different hybrid choices of strategic decisions are being made by the case company operating with high-volume and high-value supply chains respectively. High-volume supply chains adopt both operational pollution and waste control strategies and incremental green product strategies to balance cost of operational change and develop a competitive eco-efficient market expansion. In contrast, high-value supply chains adopt radical green product innovation strategies and operational waste prevention strategies to balance cost of product innovation and build operational efficiency to expand in a competitive eco-differentiation market. A mix of dynamic capabilities involved in different supply chain green transformations are also identified.

Disposable but indispensable: The role of packaging in everyday food consumption

ABSTRACT Consumers nowadays usually dispose of food packaging after a single use. As the amount of packaging waste increases, it is of the utmost importance to encourage its reduction. Whereas most previous studies have focused on packaging in practices related to supermarkets, we analyse its role in food consumption beyond the realm of shopping. Rooted in practice theories, we conceptually frame packaging as an integral material element that is unconsciously used in daily food consumption. To explore this idea, we collected qualitative data from 26 consumers in Berlin, Germany, combining food diaries and interviews. Our results illustrate that disposable packaging is entangled in many food consumption practices in multiple ways. It is a multifaceted object that saves time and space while facilitating consumption, making it difficult for consumers to sidestep. Based on these insights, we derive recommendations for a shift towards packaging waste prevention.

Household fermentation of leftover bread to nutritious food

Resource dependency of food production is aggravated when food is wasted. In Sweden, it is estimated that 37% of the total bread waste is generated at the household level. This work aimed to assess whether fermentation using edible filamentous fungi at households can provide a solution to valorize leftover bread in the production of fungi-based food for consumption. Bread was fermented in household and laboratory conditions with Neurospora intermedia and Rhizopus oligosporus. The results show that bread can be successfully and easily fermented at households, without signs of microbial contamination even though the conditions were not sterile. Fermentation at the household resulted in higher protein, fat and fiber content as well as greater starch reduction compared to the samples fermented under laboratory conditions. Household engagement in bread fermentation will likely depend on values that motivate reusing leftover bread. Perceived values that are expected to motivate engagement vary across individuals, but may include improved nutritional benefits, food waste prevention, convenience, responsibilities, and being part of sustainable societies and actions.

Household food waste prevention behavior: the role of religious orientations, emotional intelligence, and spiritual well-being

Household food waste contributes extensively to environmental degradation, and it accounts for half of the food wasted around the globe. This study investigates the effect of religious orientations (intrinsic and extrinsic) on household food waste prevention behavior, considering the mediating role of emotional intelligence and spiritual well-being. A questionnaire was distributed to evaluate the research variables targeting women (n = 475). Structural equation modeling has been adopted to analyze the data. Findings demonstrate that intrinsic religious orientation positively impacts household food waste prevention behavior, whereas extrinsic religious orientation negatively impacts it. Moreover, emotional intelligence and spiritual well-being play a mediating role through the effect of intrinsic religious orientation on household food waste prevention behavior. This study indicates that intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientations have opposite effects on household food waste prevention behavior. Also, emotional intelligence and spiritual well-being highlight the need for different strategies to encourage food waste reduction behavior specific to an individual’s religious orientation.

Government Policy and Practices to Support Malaysian Food Donors in Redistribution of Surplus Food. Are there sufficient?

Food waste has been described as a global problem with numerous root causes (Minor et al., 2019; Narvanen et al., 2020; Niina et al., 2022; Weber and Khademian, 2008). Food waste has reached alarming proportions, with approximately one-third of all food produced going to waste (FAO, 2014; Gustavsson et al., 2011). Food waste accounts for 20% of all food produced in the European Union(EU), costing 143 billion EUR annum (Stenmarck et al., 2016). A study was done by Future Directions International (FDI) in 2016 found that 25% of the globe's food waste happens in South and Southeast Asia. Food waste prevention at the source must be the main priority. Still, the EU's food waste hierarchy puts redistribution of surplus food for human consumption as the second-best option when food waste cannot be avoided (European Commission, 2020). Some Southeast Asia countries managed 64% of avoidable food waste by redistributing it to those in need (Tech Collective, 2019). Most food waste is managed via lower-priority methods, including composting, incineration, or landfill (European Comission, 2020; Eurostat, 2020; Obersteiner et al., 2021). Redistribution of surplus food or food donation to a marginalised community can be advantageous. Aside from the environmental, economic and social benefits, using the food for its intended purpose preserves its energy and nutrient content. Furthermore, surplus food redistribution is increasingly recognised to address food insecurity and food waste (Schneider, 2013). In Malaysia, the government is concerned with redistributing surplus food operated by a food bank or charity organisation via donations from the food retail industry (Hamik et al., 2021). Keywords: Redistribution, Surplus Food, Food Donor, Government Policy and Practices

Closing the Carbon Loop in the Circular Plastics Economy.

Today, plastics are ubiquitous in everyday life, problem solvers of modern technologies, and crucial for sustainable development. Yet the surge in global demand for plastics of the growing world population has triggered a tidal wave of plastic debris in the environment. Moving from a linear to a zero-waste and carbon-neutral circular plastic economy is vital for the future of the planet. Taming the plastic waste flood requires closing the carbon loop through plastic reuse, mechanical and molecular recycling, carbon capture, and use of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. In the quest for eco-friendly products, plastics do not need to be reinvented but tuned for reuse and recycling. Their full potential must be exploited regarding energy, resource, and eco-efficiency, waste prevention, circular economy, climate change mitigation, and lowering environmental pollution. Biodegradation holds promise for composting and bio-feedstock recovery, but it is neither the Holy Grail of circular plastics economy nor a panacea for plastic littering. As an alternative to mechanical downcycling, molecular recycling enables both closed-loop recovery of virgin plastics and open-loop valorization, producing hydrogen, fuels, refinery feeds, lubricants, chemicals, and carbonaceous materials. Closing the carbon loop does not create a Perpetuum Mobile and requires renewable energy to achieve sustainability.

Religious values and family upbringing as antecedents of food waste avoidance

Consumer intention to avoid food waste is determined by various socio-demographic and psychographic/psychological factors. While many of these factors have been well studied, some remain under-researched. This is the case for religious values and family upbringing that may represent strong antecedents of personal norms towards food waste avoidance. This study tests the role of these factors on a sample (n = 566) of consumers in Poland, a society with strong religious traditions and family ties. The results indicate that religious values play an important role in family upbringing which, by influencing personal social and environmental motives, mediates the effect on personal norms to avoid food waste. This suggests that religious leaders should be engaged in the design of food waste prevention campaigns specifically targeting parents. This is to trigger a cross-generational spillover effect whereby family morals on food waste avoidance are transferred from parents to children and reinforced by religious values.

Compositional Analysis of Street Market Food Waste in Brazil

Current understanding of food waste quantities in the Brazilian retail sector is limited. In order to develop efficient measures for food waste prevention and valorisation, reliable data on waste generation and composition are necessary. In this study, a compositional analysis of street market waste was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. In total, 4.1 tonnes of waste were sorted into 27 waste fractions, categorised using a three-level approach. The average waste generation in the studied street markets was 23.7 kg per stall, of which 12.8 kg was classified as unavoidable food waste, 3.6 kg as packaging waste, and 7.4 kg as avoidable waste. The results show large amounts of unavoidable food waste, comprised of coconut, sugarcane bagasse, and peels. A large share of the avoidable food waste is comprised of single leaves, tomatoes, oranges, and bananas. Large variations were observed among the street markets analysed, both in terms of the food waste generation rate, and composition. The results from scaling up the data at the city level indicated a total wastage of 59,300 tonnes per year, of which 18,400 tonnes are classified as avoidable food waste.

Social Marketing as a Tool for a Sustainable Municipal Waste Management

Abstract Research purpose. The purpose is to study the household attitudes toward waste separation and prevention and present an innovative model of efficient and sustainable waste management. Design / Methodology / Approach. In the empirical part, an online survey was implemented to research residents’ attitudes and intentions regarding handling household waste. It resulted in 228 valid responses, used for a quantitative analysis to answer the set hypotheses. Findings. Regardless of the good results of waste separation in the municipality, the research showed that households do not know how to classify certain waste according to the type properly. It was confirmed that the use of penalty programs does not contribute to a higher level of waste separation. The already high awareness of the importance of separating waste could further be strengthened through the tools of social marketing as a factor for social change. Originality / Value / Practical implications. It has been proven that residents’ motivation is an important factor that indirectly influences households to separate, prevent and reduce the generation of new amounts of waste. Changing people’s attitudes, mindsets, and behavior to be environmentally friendly is the best way to prevent further encroachment on the natural environment.

591-P: Green Diabetes: What Do People with Diabetes Think about Packaging Waste and Sustainability?

Aims: More and more people with diabetes (PwD) are paying attention to the waste associated with new technologies and want more sustainable concepts for waste prevention and a positive ecological footprint. So far, there are little results on the importance people with diabetes attach to the issue of sustainability and environmental compatibility. In an online survey, we wanted to determine the extent of these wishes and ecological needs of PwD. Methods: PwD in Germany were asked via online surveys (2.417 PwD; 47.5% female, 57.8% type 1 diabetes (T1D) , 20.7% type 2 diabetes (T2D) , 19.0% parents of children with diabetes; Ø 47.7 years) . Results: For more than half of all respondents, the topic of packaging waste is important (54.5%) , two out of three respondents say they would like to see more reusable utensils in diabetes therapy (67.1%) . However, the amount of packaging waste in diabetes technologies does not seem to be a decision criterion for most PwD when selecting modern technologies - this is only significant for 15% (TSD 21,9%) . Overall, there were only slight differences between the groups of PwD. Conclusions: Ecological aspects are becoming increasingly important in diabetes therapy: most PwD are concerned about the issue of packaging waste in diabetes technologies and would like to see more recyclable utensils for their diabetes therapy. Although the number of respondents who consider the amount of packaging waste to be a decisive criterion for the choice of a diabetes technology is low - among people with type 2 diabetes, however, this is already around one in five persons. Disclosure L.Heinemann: Board Member; Lifecare, Inc., Consultant; Becton, Dickinson and Company, Roche Diabetes Care, Stock/Shareholder; Profil Institut für Stoffwechselforschung GmbH, Science Consulting in Diabetes GmbH. D.Ehrmann: Advisory Panel; Dexcom, Inc., Consultant; mySugr, Roche Diabetes Care, Speaker's Bureau; Berlin-Chemie AG, Dexcom, Inc. T.Roos: None. N.Hermanns: Advisory Panel; Abbott Diabetes, Research Support; Becton, Dickinson and Company, Roche Diagnostics, Speaker's Bureau; Berlin-Chemie AG, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi. B.Kulzer: Advisory Panel; Bayer AG, Bayer AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Berlin-Chemie AG, Berlin-Chemie AG, Dexcom, Inc., Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Novo Nordisk, Roche Diabetes Care, Sanofi, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Research Support; Novo Nordisk, Roche Diabetes Care.

Chemical, technological and sensory quality of pasta and bakery products made with biomass and green banana flour

SummaryBanana is a highly nutritive food, low cost, easy to find and can be fully consumed. In its green maturation, the nutritive value is also interesting. This paper aimed to investigate studies that elaborated pasta and bakery products using biomass and green banana flour, and evaluate chemical, technology and sensory quality, besides whether these products could be considered gluten‐free alternatives. Among the included studies, cakes (35%), bread (25%) and pasta (20%) were the most studied products. In general, they succeeded in evaluating chemical, technological and sensory parameters. In terms of technological quality, breads were considered the most challenging foods to be prepared with green banana derivatives, possibly due to the lack of gluten network, extensibility, viscoelasticity, water and gas‐holding capacity. Only 45% of the papers made gluten‐free products. Green banana added to these products could be widely consumed by people, since it is a versatile alternative for many food possibilities, adding nutritional quality to the final product and helping on the prevention of food waste.

Experiencing less leads to the use of more: The effect of a scarcity mindset on product usage

In social marketing campaigns, demonstrating the severity of scarcity to highlight the importance of reducing wasteful behaviours is a prevalent approach that seems logically justified. However, whether and how a scarcity mindset influences product usage in waste generation remains unclear. The present article reveals the process underlying the effect of a scarcity mindset on product usage. A series of studies demonstrate that reminding consumers of a scarcity experience induces them to be more selfishly oriented and to experience less anticipated guilt of waste, thereby increasing their usage amount. Furthermore, enhancing the possession–self link with ownership and conducting recycling education for the classification of unrecyclable waste can moderate the effects of a scarcity mindset on usage quantity. This research thus advances our understanding of the factors that affect consumption quantity and sheds light on waste prevention and reduction.