Impacts of Food Waste in Carbon Emission and Control Measures : Sodexo's 34 percent carbon reduction target by 2025

Abstract

Food waste is one of the most important factors contributing to the degradation of the environment. Direct or indirect emission from the wasted food is affecting the environment and Food waste also has massive effects in the economy of the globe. This thesis aims to determine the impacts of food waste on the environment and economy and on the energy consumption in the kitchen of the cafeteria on the Leiritie campus of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. An energy and power measuring device was set up, and the consumption of energy in the kitchen was measured for a week.

The literature review part includes the quantity of the food waste on a global basis and the effects of food waste on the environment. Different types of food waste in the food supply chain are also described in the thesis. This thesis also focuses on the carbon emission from the food sector, and on Sodexo group’s aim to diminish the carbon emission is taken as the main part of the thesis. Sodexo’s aim to decrease carbon emission by 34 percent by the year 2025 is studied, and progress with the target is demonstrated.

Measurement of the energy consumption in the kitchen of a restaurant operated by the Sodexo company on the Metropolia Leiritie campus is included in the thesis work. The measurement of the energy and power consumption was done by using a Fluke power meter 435(ii). The results of the measurement are shown in the thesis with the calculation of carbon emission from the consumed electricity for a normal office week of Metropolia UAS. A carbon emission of 0.72 tCO2 was calculated as per the measurement.