Advanced food waste quantification at municipal level to strengthen the assessment of prevention actions
Abstract Food loss and waste (FLW) demands urgent attention: over 58 million tonnes wasted annually in the EU, while 828 million people face hunger worldwide. SDG 12.3 targets a 50% reduction in FLW by 2030, requiring rigorous quantification. Governments must quantify FLW, especially at the consumpt...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12943-2 |
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| author | Begoña Untzizu Olano-Oteiza Manuel Amador-Cervera María Virginia Vargas-Viedma Ainhoa Alonso-Vicario |
| author_facet | Begoña Untzizu Olano-Oteiza Manuel Amador-Cervera María Virginia Vargas-Viedma Ainhoa Alonso-Vicario |
| author_sort | Begoña Untzizu Olano-Oteiza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Food loss and waste (FLW) demands urgent attention: over 58 million tonnes wasted annually in the EU, while 828 million people face hunger worldwide. SDG 12.3 targets a 50% reduction in FLW by 2030, requiring rigorous quantification. Governments must quantify FLW, especially at the consumption stage, where most of FLW is generated. However, the limited granularity of existing data emphasises the need for improved quantification methods that enable reliable comparisons and set solid basis to measure the impact of future FLW prevention actions. This paper proposes a FLW quantification methodology at municipal and regional scales aligned with the existing urban waste management requirements. The methodology involved experts and stakeholders to define the optimal FLW quantification framework and measurement method. It was validated in 6 Basque municipalities with a common waste characterisation matrix to compare waste fractions, generator types and waste collection systems. A cartographic analysis, from regional to street level, demonstrates how data granularity shapes FLW pattern interpretation. As in the case of Zamudio, where data at container level permits detailed insights. This approach enables improved waste collection and the design of ad-hoc FLW prevention actions (like economic instruments) according to the generator profile and type of FLW. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-34c1c08d82f648e5bdafce06250c1914 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-34c1c08d82f648e5bdafce06250c19142025-08-20T03:45:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-12943-2Advanced food waste quantification at municipal level to strengthen the assessment of prevention actionsBegoña Untzizu Olano-Oteiza0Manuel Amador-Cervera1María Virginia Vargas-Viedma2Ainhoa Alonso-Vicario3DeustoTech, Faculty of Engineering, University of DeustoDeustoTech, Faculty of Engineering, University of DeustoDeusto Research and Knowledge Transfer (DIT), University of DeustoDeustoTech, Faculty of Engineering, University of DeustoAbstract Food loss and waste (FLW) demands urgent attention: over 58 million tonnes wasted annually in the EU, while 828 million people face hunger worldwide. SDG 12.3 targets a 50% reduction in FLW by 2030, requiring rigorous quantification. Governments must quantify FLW, especially at the consumption stage, where most of FLW is generated. However, the limited granularity of existing data emphasises the need for improved quantification methods that enable reliable comparisons and set solid basis to measure the impact of future FLW prevention actions. This paper proposes a FLW quantification methodology at municipal and regional scales aligned with the existing urban waste management requirements. The methodology involved experts and stakeholders to define the optimal FLW quantification framework and measurement method. It was validated in 6 Basque municipalities with a common waste characterisation matrix to compare waste fractions, generator types and waste collection systems. A cartographic analysis, from regional to street level, demonstrates how data granularity shapes FLW pattern interpretation. As in the case of Zamudio, where data at container level permits detailed insights. This approach enables improved waste collection and the design of ad-hoc FLW prevention actions (like economic instruments) according to the generator profile and type of FLW.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12943-2Food wasteFood waste quantificationWaste preventionWaste managementCircular economySustainability |
| spellingShingle | Begoña Untzizu Olano-Oteiza Manuel Amador-Cervera María Virginia Vargas-Viedma Ainhoa Alonso-Vicario Advanced food waste quantification at municipal level to strengthen the assessment of prevention actions Scientific Reports Food waste Food waste quantification Waste prevention Waste management Circular economy Sustainability |
| title | Advanced food waste quantification at municipal level to strengthen the assessment of prevention actions |
| title_full | Advanced food waste quantification at municipal level to strengthen the assessment of prevention actions |
| title_fullStr | Advanced food waste quantification at municipal level to strengthen the assessment of prevention actions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advanced food waste quantification at municipal level to strengthen the assessment of prevention actions |
| title_short | Advanced food waste quantification at municipal level to strengthen the assessment of prevention actions |
| title_sort | advanced food waste quantification at municipal level to strengthen the assessment of prevention actions |
| topic | Food waste Food waste quantification Waste prevention Waste management Circular economy Sustainability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12943-2 |
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