From cradle to grave: evaluating bread production and waste using multicriteria optimization and life cycle assessment


Aljaber S., Aleisa E., ALLAHVERDİ A.

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, cilt.27, sa.4, ss.2684-2698, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 27 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10163-025-02267-8
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Compendex, Environment Index, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2684-2698
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Animal feed, Bread waste, Food waste, Kuwait, Life cycle assessment, Mathematical modeling, Multicriteria analysis
  • Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Bread is a fundamental staple in the diets of numerous nations. However, bread waste ranks among the most discarded food items globally, making a significant contribution to the ongoing challenge of global food waste. The impact of bread production and bread waste is assessed environmentally through multicriteria optimization, for carbon footprint, water footprint and cost. Two of the most consumed bread types, flat (pita) and yeast bread, are examined and are analyzed through life cycle assessment. The scope includes production stages and end of life alternatives including animal feed use, composting, incineration, and landfilling are examined. The results indicate that flat bread requires 674 m3 of water and produces around 721.86 kg CO2 eq. per ton, while yeast bread requires 1379.86 m3 of water and emits 930.68 kg CO2 eq. per ton. The wheat-milling process alone contributes to 75% of the carbon emissions. Animal feed from bread waste is most viable environmentally, saving 823.2 kg CO2 eq. for each type of bread waste valorized. Prioritizing water and carbon footprints suggest the use of bread waste as animal feed. Conversely, composting and incineration with energy recovery emerge as optimal solutions when a greater emphasis is placed on cost allocation.