Case studies on food waste quantification, characterization, and identification of prevention and reduction options in Colombo, Sri Lanka

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dc.creatorJayathilake, Nilanthi
dc.creatorAheeyar, Mohamed M. M.
dc.creatorWickramasinghe, N.
dc.creatorBucatariu, C.
dc.creatorDrechsel, Pay
dc.date2023-07-11
dc.date2023-07-27T06:48:10Z
dc.date2023-07-27T06:48:10Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:37:46Z
dc.descriptionFood waste (FW) is a key challenge on the sustainable development agenda of countries worldwide. The lack of FW data and insights from its analysis about quantities, causes, and characteristics is a significant obstacle in implementing adequate reduction and prevention interventions for different sectors. The primary purpose of the case studies was to review FW prevention, reduction, and management initiatives. Lessons and best practices that enable and facilitate solutions were identified. Nine case studies were conducted targeting five sectors: food services (one restaurant and one hotel), wholesale markets (one fruits and vegetables wholesale market), retailers (one retail market, one retail shop, and one supermarket), caterers (one hospital), and households (five middle- and five high-income households). The case studies consisted of a FW audit that measured the amounts generated from various processes and identified drivers/causes and current best practices. Quantification involved physical separation, weighing, and categorizing the different food components. The separation classified quantities into edible and inedible portions. The study also focused on assessing the environmental and socio impacts, based on assessed and categorized FW quantities. FW is a complex phenomenon where the amount, causes and consequences are contextually different. It is not easy to compare and contrast country-level data and the individual actors in the same country. Therefore, the case study approach has been used in many FW-related studies. Multiple case studies can be expensive and time-consuming to implement. Under this study, we analyzed nine case studies targeting five sectors: food services (four restaurants, a dessert shop and one hotel), wholesale markets (one fruit and vegetable market ), retail markets (one supermarket, one fruit and vegetable retailer, one Dedicated Economic Center), caterers/institutional canteens (one hospital) and households (five middle-income households and five low-income households). Entities were selected based on willingness to participate and an actual FW reduction need.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/131313
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/161207
dc.languageen
dc.publisherFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
dc.publisherInternational Water Management Institute
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceJayathilake, Nilanthi; Aheeyar, Mohamed; Wickramasinghe, N.; Bucatariu, C.; Drechsel, Pay. 2023. Case studies on food waste quantification, characterization, and identification of prevention and reduction options in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Rome, Italy: FAO; Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 98p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.4060/cb8396en]
dc.subjectfood waste
dc.subjectwaste reduction
dc.subjectwaste management
dc.subjectcase studies
dc.subjectstrategies
dc.subjectbest practices
dc.subjectenvironmental impact
dc.subjectsocial impact assessment
dc.subjecteconomic impact
dc.subjectfinancial analysis
dc.subjectcarbon footprint
dc.subjectwater scarcity
dc.subjectwater footprint
dc.subjectsoil quality
dc.subjectwholesale markets
dc.subjectfood service industry
dc.subjecthousehold wastes
dc.subjectawareness
dc.titleCase studies on food waste quantification, characterization, and identification of prevention and reduction options in Colombo, Sri Lanka
dc.typeReport

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Instituto Internacional para el Manejo del Agua (IWMI)