This research determines the potential impact of reducing food waste on future energy consumption and pollutant emissions. The study uses system dynamics modelling to simulate the complex link between population, food demand, food waste output and their interactions with energy consumption in the food system and carbon dioxide (CO) emissions. Scenarios are developed by considering two elements: a reduction in food waste and an increase in energy output. Based on a case study of Delhi, food demand and energy consumption are expected to rise by 6% and 35% every year, respectively, from 2023 to 2033. The model predicts that a 20% reduction in food waste, combined with a 20% increase in energy efficiency, could reduce CO emissions by 23.17% by 2033. The combination scenario proved to be the most efficient in reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption. This significant reduction in emissions highlights the potential of integrated food waste and energy management strategies in mitigating environmental impact.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0734242X251320876 | DOI Listing |
Waste Manag Res
March 2025
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), New Delhi, DL, India.
This research determines the potential impact of reducing food waste on future energy consumption and pollutant emissions. The study uses system dynamics modelling to simulate the complex link between population, food demand, food waste output and their interactions with energy consumption in the food system and carbon dioxide (CO) emissions. Scenarios are developed by considering two elements: a reduction in food waste and an increase in energy output.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Monit Assess
March 2025
Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
In industrialized areas, air pollution is a recurring problem, especially in areas with high manufacturing and energy-intensive businesses. The challenge lies in the tension between industrial growth and environmental protection, as these sectors significantly contribute to pollution, resource depletion, and climate change. The objectives of the study were (1) to assess the contribution of each industrial group to the air quality in and around the Pasir Gudang industrial area, Malaysia, and (2) to evaluate the Air Pollution Index (API).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
March 2025
College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
Preparing carbon aerogel in an eco-friendly and inexpensive manner remains a significant challenge. The carbon aerogels derived from food waste (FWCAs) with a three-dimensional connected network structure are successfully synthesized using microwave radiation. The as-prepared FWCA-4 (The KOH/C ratio is 4) has a large specific surface area (1470 m/g), pore volume (0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Technol
March 2025
Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Sludge is a biohazardous solid waste that is produced during wastewater treatment. It contains antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that pose significant antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threats. Herein, aerobic and anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AeMBRs and AnMBRs, respectively) were compared in terms of the volume of waste sludge generated by them, the presence of ARGs in the sludge, and the potential for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events using metagenomics to determine which treatment process can better address AMR concerns associated with the generation of waste sludge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Food
March 2025
Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Global food loss and waste continues to increase despite efforts to reduce it. Food waste causes a disproportionally large carbon footprint and resource burdens, which require urgent action to transition away from a disposal-dominated linear system to a circular bioeconomy of recovery and reuse of valuable resources. Here, using data from field-based studies conducted under diverse conditions worldwide, we found collective evidence that composting, anaerobic digestion and repurposing food waste to animal feed (re-feed) result in emission reductions of about 1 tCOe t food waste recycled compared with landfill disposal.
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