Why is it necessary to integrate circular economy practices for agri‐food sustainability from a global perspective?

Abstract

Our comprehensive analysis delves into the viability of incorporating circular economy (CE) principles to effectively address Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)‐12 (“Responsible Consumption and Production”), with a focus on minimising food waste and loss (FWL) and lessening environmental harm. The study relied on existing literature from various organisations, including the United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organisation, and World Resources Institute, among others, to collect data. This study reveals that in 2019, over 931 million tonnes of food squandering was produced on a global scale, and households, the food service industry, and retail establishments account for the squandering of 61, 26, and 13 per cent, respectively. Our study finds that food waste contributes significantly to environmental damage, causing approximately 16 per cent of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by food systems in Europe. We also find that food production, such as the excessive disposal of meat, contributes to nearly 20 per cent of the carbon footprint caused by FWL on a global scale. Based on analysing available data, we investigated the factors and frequency of FWL in the agri‐food industry on a global scale, which vary in terms of a country's or region's economic position. Therefore, this research aims to assess and integrate the CE model into agri‐food sustainability in harmony with the SDG indicators worldwide.