Introducing a Degrowth Approach to the Circular Economy Policies of Food Production, and Food Loss and Waste Management: Towards a Circular Bioeconomy

Daniel Hoehn, Jara Laso, María Margallo, Israel Ruiz-Salmón, Francisco José Amo-Setién, Rebeca Abajas-Bustillo, Carmen Sarabia, Ainoa Quiñones, Ian Vázquez-Rowe, Alba Bala, Laura Batlle-Bayer, Pere Fullana-i-Palmer and Rubén Aldaco
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Daniel Hoehn: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain
Jara Laso: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain
María Margallo: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain
Israel Ruiz-Salmón: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain
Francisco José Amo-Setién: Department of Nursing, University of Cantabria, Avda. de Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain
Rebeca Abajas-Bustillo: Department of Nursing, University of Cantabria, Avda. de Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain
Carmen Sarabia: Department of Nursing, University of Cantabria, Avda. de Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain
Ainoa Quiñones: Department of Business Administration, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain
Ian Vázquez-Rowe: Peruvian LCA Network (PELCAN), Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Av. Universitaria 1801, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru
Alba Bala: UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Pg. Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Laura Batlle-Bayer: UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Pg. Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Pere Fullana-i-Palmer: UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Pg. Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Rubén Aldaco: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: There is a growing debate surrounding the contradiction between an unremitting increase in the use of resources and the search for environmental sustainability. Therefore, the concept of sustainable degrowth is emerging aiming to introduce in our societies new social values and new policies, capable of satisfying human requirements whilst reducing environmental impacts and consumption of resources. In this framework, circular economy strategies for food production and food loss and waste management systems, following the Sustainable Development Goals agenda, are being developed based on a search for circularity, but without setting limits to the continual increase in environmental impacts and resource use. This work presents a methodology for determining the percentage of degrowth needed in any food supply chain, by analyzing four scenarios in a life cycle assessment approach over time between 2020 and 2040. Results for the Spanish case study suggested a degrowth need of 26.8% in 2015 and 58.9% in 2040 in order to achieve compliance with the Paris Agreement targets, highlighting the reduction of meat and fish and seafood consumption as the most useful path.

Keywords: degrowth; food supply chain; food loss and waste; Global North; Paris Agreement; spiral bioeconomy; circular bioeconomy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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