Reducing Plate Waste in Latvian Schools: Evaluating Interventions to Promote Sustainable Food Consumption Practices.

Food waste (FW) threatens food security, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency, with about one-third of global food production lost or wasted. Schools play a crucial role in addressing FW, representing lost resources and missed educational opportunities. The present research assessed three interventions to reduce plate waste (PW) in Rezekne City schools, namely (S1) a plate waste tracker, (S2) an awareness and educational campaign, and (S3) organizational changes, including larger plates, extended lunch breaks, and teacher supervision.

Plate Waste Forecasting Using the Monte Carlo Method for Effective Decision Making in Latvian Schools.

Food waste is a global problem, which becomes apparent at various stages of the food supply chain. The present research study focuses on the optimization of food consumption in schools and effective food management through data-driven decision making within the trends: zero food waste and digital transformation. The paper presents a plate waste forecasting system based on mathematical modeling and simulation using the Monte Carlo method, which showed an RMSE equal to ±3% and a MAPE of 10.

Transition to the forced telework - a challenge for trade unions identified by the study on working life with COVID-19 in Latvia.

Background: In general, companies with trade unions perform better in occupational health and safety, therefore, we assume that these companies should have performed better in transition to healthy and safe telework if compared with other companies.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the role of company trade unions on the implementation of telework arrangements in Latvia during the 1st emergency state in spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A web-based survey based on snowball sampling method and social media advertisements was used to gather information from teleworkers.

Work-Life Balance of the Employed Population During the Emergency Situation of COVID-19 in Latvia.

All the employees face the challenge of finding the right work-life balance. The ability of employees to deal with the successful combining of work, family responsibilities, and personal life is crucial for both employers and family members of employees. During the COVID-19 emergency situation, many people around the world were forced to work remotely.

Reasons for Low Protection of Vulnerable Workers from COVID-19-Results from the Quantitative and Qualitative Study on Working Life in Latvia.

Several individual factors like older age and chronic diseases have been linked with more severe symptoms often leading to hospitalization and higher mortality from COVID-19. Part of adults with such factors is still active in the workforce. The objective of the study was to identify measures taken by the employer to protect them and to investigate reasons for low protection of vulnerable workers during the 1st wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.