Sustainability Assessment of Out-of-Home Meals: Potentials and Challenges of Applying the Indicator sets NAHGAST Meal-Basic and NAHGAST Meal-Pro

Tobias Engelmann, Melanie Speck, Holger Rohn, Katrin Bienge, Nina Langen, Eva Howell, Christine Göbel, Silke Friedrich, Petra Teitscheid, Jaya Bowry, Christa Liedtke and Silvia Monetti
Additional contact information
Tobias Engelmann: Faktor 10—Institut für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften gGmbH, 61169 Friedberg, Germany
Melanie Speck: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany
Holger Rohn: Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, University of Applied Sciences, 35390 Gießen, Germany
Katrin Bienge: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany
Eva Howell: Faktor 10—Institut für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften gGmbH, 61169 Friedberg, Germany
Christine Göbel: Institute of Sustainable Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
Silke Friedrich: Institute of Sustainable Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
Petra Teitscheid: Institute of Sustainable Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
Jaya Bowry: Faktor 10—Institut für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften gGmbH, 61169 Friedberg, Germany
Christa Liedtke: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany
Silvia Monetti: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 2, 1-22

Abstract: Nutrition is responsible for about 30% of global natural resource use. In order to limit the negative impact the nutritional sector has on the environment and on society, the consumption and processing of foodstuffs with assumed low negative impact is an important topic in the effort of sustainable development. In professional kitchens, clearly defined indicators assessing the impact of business activities are needed in this effort. The research and development in the NAHGAST project provides groundwork that could be of important assistance in this effort. Two versions of an assessment tool, with indicators of different complexity (NAHGAST Meal-Basic and NAHGAST Meal-Pro), were developed that can be used by kitchen professionals to determine the sustainability performance of their products—the offered meal. An informed selection of indicators, and a discussion of what processes and impacts this indicator relates to in the wider context, are essential and are discussed in this paper. Furthermore, in the selection of indicators for the purpose of our research certain criteria were considered simultaneously: (1) Communicability—What information an indicator can communicate and how comprehensible this information is for different actors; (2) Feasibility and data availability—Whether there is sufficient data for an indicator to be included and whether it is realistic for companies to integrate this indicator in their daily work practice; and (3) Scientific relevance—Whether the indicator is relevant for sustainability efforts on a larger scale and for related discussions in the scientific community. Insights related to these considerations are valuable for future developments in sustainability assessment in out-of-home gastronomy. The tool has been used to evaluate a number of dishes and results are deemed meaningful. However, assessments must not be understood as an accurate measurement but as an approximation of the sustainability of meals. At the level of individual indicators, they allow a detailed analysis and targeted optimization of recipes, while the aggregated results in the form of labels can be communicated well to customers. However, deficiencies and challenges, as discovered in the application phase of the project, demonstrate research gaps in the wider context. Finally, further steps for an integration of the tool in company processes and remaining options for companies to adjust the tool are discussed.

Keywords: sustainability; nutrition; sustainability assessment; indicators; out-of-home catering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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