Environmental Benefits of the STREFOWA Pilot Actions
All pilot actions achieved a potential saving in greenhouse gas emissions as well as other environmental impact categories assessed within the scope of this study. Figure 1 gives an overview of the kg CO 2 e saved per t of food waste prevented. Pilot actions which prevented the amount of meat and dairy waste (PA 4,6,8) achieved the highest savings per t of food waste. The reduction of ghg emissions is mainly due to the substitution of food. Hence, food that is saved from waste is now available for consumption and substitutes food on the market. The Pilot actions themselves have a comparable small environmental impact. Pilot actions where food is further processed (PA1 Processing, PA 5) have a larger impact than other pilot actions. The replaced waste management has in particular a negative environmental impact in countries where fractions of the food waste are still disposed in landfills.
Figure 1 Global warming potential of all pilot actions per t of food waste prevented
Results are linked to some limitations and assumptions which have to be considered when interpreting the results. Activities associated with pilot action 1 and 8 are based on individual measurements. Depending on the setup of the gleaning activities of pilot action 1 in particular the transport the environmental impact can change. E.g. if the gleaning network only collects 100kg (instead of 1t) of crops per trip the pilot actions would not achieve environmental benefits. Pilot action 8 is based on individual measurements and a small sample size. Pilot actions 4, 5 and 6 were implemented on a larger scale and data were collected for a longer period of time. Hence activities and processes were already established and fewer assumptions had to be made.
Environmental benefits achieved through the substitution of food are relying on the assumptions that 1 kg of a certain food group saved from waste actually substituted the same food group. Hence 1 kg of frozen meat donated substitutes 1 kg of frozen meat produced even though it is actually not known if the beneficiary of the donated meat would have otherwise consumed meat or other food. In case the substituted food would be
plant based actual environmental benefits would be substantially smaller.
Environmental benefits achieved through the substitution of food are relying on the assumptions that 1 kg of a certain food group saved from waste actually substituted the same food group. Hence 1 kg of frozen meat donated substitutes 1 kg of frozen meat produced even though it is actually not known if the beneficiary of the donated meat would have otherwise consumed meat or other food. In case the substituted food would be
plant based actual environmental benefits would be substantially smaller.
Figure 2 Global warming potential, total savings achieved during the implementation of the pilot action
Pilot action 2, 4, 5 and 6 were implemented on a larger scale. Karakter Ernte (PA2) saved 6 t of food waste, food donations saved 2000 t in Poland (PA4), 200 t in Prague (PA5) and 0.2 t in Asti (PA6). Figure 2 shows the greenhouse gas emission savings achieved during the implementation of the pilot action. Most of the savings were achieved in Poland (PA4). This is mainly due to the large amount of food waste prevented but as well because most of the food saved were dairy and meat products. Pilot action 1 and 8 are not included in
Figure 2 as they are based on individual measurements and no substantial amounts of food waste was prevented within the scope of these pilot actions.
Figure 2 as they are based on individual measurements and no substantial amounts of food waste was prevented within the scope of these pilot actions.
