Exploring Drivers and Mitigation Strategies for Food Manufacturing Wastes in the Circular Economy Using Rich Pictures

Abstract

This study aims to identify the main types, drivers, and solutions for food loss and waste (FLW) as reported by stakeholders within the UK food manufacturing sector from a Circular Economy perspective. Based on insights from diagramming‐based workshops involving 35 participants working in an organisation in the sector, FLW occurs primarily as a result of it either being unwanted by the primary consumer or due to it being unsafe to consume. Drivers relating to internal considerations include machinery faults, human errors, and miscoordination across business functions, while external factors include sensitive product standards, uncertainties in demand forecasting, and constraints in raw material acquisition. Participants describe potential solutions including actions from across the Circular Economy playbook, including redistribution of surpluses, recovery and re‐use of wastes and a particular focus on narrowing existing material flows through waste prevention. Of interest to parties seeking to understand the systemic drivers of FLW in the manufacturing sector, the results provide evidence for cross‐sectoral collaboration in the design of interventions moving towards increased FLW reduction and productive use.