Food loss rate in food supply chain using material flow analysis.
The food loss rate is a factor that represents food consumption efficiency. To improve food consumption efficiency, we need to fundamentally quantify food loss at national and global levels. This study examines food and food waste flow and calculates the food loss rate in the food supply chain by targeting Japan. We analyzed inedible food waste and avoidable food losses in wholesale, manufacturing, retail, food services, and households and considered different supply chain pathways, different food categories representing whole Japanese meals, and weight changes after cooking. The results are as follows: (1) Japan has an overall rate of avoidable food losses of approximately 15% for meals (excluding agricultural losses), (2) the supply sector with the highest food loss rate is food services, and (3) the food category with the highest food loss rate is vegetables. Finally, we proposed a model for calculating food loss rates that could be used for future analysis in Japan or other countries.
Institute of Construction and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-744, South Korea. Electronic address: jmskiki@gmail.com.
Munsol
M
Ju
Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Osako
Faculty of Policy Informatics, Chiba University of Commerce, 1-3-1 Kounodai, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-0827, Japan.
Sachihiko
S
Harashina
D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004777:Environment; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005522:Food Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005523:Food Supply / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007564:Japan; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014675:Vegetables; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Food consumption style; Food loss; Food supply chain; Food waste; Material flow analysis