Food waste is a serious worldwide issue that has an impact on the environment, society, and economy. This comprehensive review provides a detailed description of methods and approaches for reducing food waste, emphasizing the necessity of comprehensive strategies to tackle its intricate relationship with environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic prosperity. By scrutinizing the extent and impact of food waste, from initial production stages to final disposal, this comprehensive review underlines the urgent need for integrated solutions that include technological advancements, behavioral interventions, regulatory frameworks, and collaborative endeavors. Environmental assessments highlight the significant contribution of food waste to greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation, water scarcity, and energy inefficiency, thereby emphasizing the importance of curtailing its environmental impact. Concurrently, the social and economic consequences of food waste, such as food insecurity, economic losses, and disparities in food access, underscore the imperative for coordinated action across multiple sectors. Food waste can also be effectively reduced by various innovative approaches, such as technological waste reduction solutions, supply chain optimization strategies, consumer behavior-focused initiatives, and waste recovery and recycling techniques. Furthermore, in order to foster an environment that encourages the reduction of food waste and facilitates the transition to a circular economy, legislative changes and regulatory actions are essential. By embracing these multifaceted strategies and approaches, stakeholders can unite to confront the global food waste crisis, thereby fostering resilience, sustainability, and social equity within our food systems.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.70011 | DOI Listing |
Heliyon
December 2024
Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.
The excessive and/or improper use of plant protection products (PPPs) can generate alarming levels of residues in the environment, compromising both soil fertility and food safety. Various organic wastes released in large amounts by agro-industrial activity are currently studied and applied as bioadsorbents for water and soil decontamination. This study explored the capacity of untreated orange peel, olive stones and pistachio shells to adsorb the PPPs oxyfluorfen (OXY), metribuzin (MET) and imidacloprid (IMI), and the xenoestrogen bisphenol A (BPA) from water.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFData Brief
December 2024
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
A life cycle inventory (LCI) dataset for food waste management was developed using secondary data from scientific literature and government reports. EPA reports on food waste management were used as the basis for collecting literature to review. Unit process parameters from the reviewed literature are compiled and combined with engineering calculations to generate LCI for food management pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Res Food Sci
November 2024
Active/Intelligent Packaging, ProAmpac, Cincinnati, OH, 45246, United States.
The study assessed a developed food-safe on-package label as a real-time spoilage indicator for fish fillets. This colorimetric sensor is sensitive to Total Volatile Base Nitrogen (TVB-N) levels, providing a correct indication of fish freshness and spoilage. This study evaluates and predicts the shelf-life and effectiveness of an on-package colorimetric indicator.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Environ Qual
December 2024
Energy and Environmental Sustainability Laboratories, Institute for Energy and the Environment, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
Concerns regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their precursors have driven increased research into their sources, impacts, and mitigation strategies, aiming to reduce their prevalence in the environment. While much of this research has centered on known large sources of PFAS (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Omega
December 2024
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, United States.
Efforts addressing sludge management, food security, and resource recovery have led to novel approaches in these areas. Electrically assisted conversion of sludge stands out as a promising technology for sewage sludge valorization, producing nitrogen and phosphorus-based fertilizers. The adoption of this technology, which could lead to a fertilizer circular economy, holds the potential to catalyze a transformative change in wastewater treatment facilities toward process intensification, innovation, and sustainability.
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