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RETASTE: Rethink Food Resources, Losses and Waste
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RETASTE: Rethink Food Resources, Losses and Waste

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Waste and Recycling".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 2836

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Thrassyvoulos Manios

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Interests: sustainable management of waste and natural resources
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Katia Lasaridi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Department of Geography Harokopio University, 176 71 Athens, Greece
Interests: sustainable management of waste and natural resources
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Konstadinos Abeliotis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Department of Geography Harokopio University, 176 71 Athens, Greece
Interests: food waste; environmental impact assessment; life cycle assessment; social life cycle assessment; circular economy; sustainability; waste prevention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Interests: sustainable management of waste and natural resources
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic, the armed conflict in Ukraine, and, of course, Global Warming have accentuated the sustainability challenges that national, EU and global food systems are facing, extending from farm (primary production) to fork (consumption). If we remain idle, these challenges are projected to intensify carbon emissions and the climate crisis, jeopardize food and nutrition security and through these jeopardize peace and prosperity worldwide. In this context, the RETASTE 2023 Conference addresses the significant issue of fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food systems from primary production to consumption.

The RETASTE 2023 Conference allows scientists, entrepreneurs and representatives of organizations related to food production, distribution and consumption, as well as those who deal with the waste produced in each step of the farm to fork ladder, to present research and innovative results that aim to address these challenges. RETASTE 2023 strives to foster research that supports the transition to more resilient and environmentally, socially and economically sustainable food systems on land and at sea that provide healthy diets for all and respect planetary boundaries.

As a result, RETASTE 2023 has expanded its vision in relation to the two previous RETASTE Conferences (RETASTE 2021 and RETASTE 2022) to include topics such as sustainable primary production, post-harvest food management, alternative nutrients sources, etc. Together with more traditional waste-related topics, such as composting, anaerobic digestion and bio-refineries, that occupied the majority of the subjects discussed in 2021 and 2022, the Conference aims to address all issues covered in the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European Green Deal ambitious targets and objectives concerning the sustainability and safety of feed, food and non-food production. These targets and objectives are included in the core European Green Deal policy priorities, in particular the farm to fork strategy, the EU biodiversity strategy 2030, zero pollution ambition and climate action and their follow-up initiatives.

Prof. Dr. Thrassyvoulos Manios
Prof. Dr. Katia Lasaridi
Prof. Dr. Konstadinos Abeliotis
Dr. Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • food resources
  • circular economy
  • prevention
  • valorization
  • utilization
  • reclamation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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19 pages, 2184 KiB  
Article
Influence of Packaging Design on Technical Emptiability of Dairy Products and Implications on Sustainability through Food Waste Reduction
by Michelle Klein, Charlotte Werner, Manfred Tacker and Silvia Apprich
Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6335; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156335 - 24 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1568
Abstract
Food loss and waste have been identified as significant contributors to existing environmental challenges. Previous studies have extensively quantified losses and waste throughout the value chain. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the influence of packaging design on food residue quantities. [...] Read more.
Food loss and waste have been identified as significant contributors to existing environmental challenges. Previous studies have extensively quantified losses and waste throughout the value chain. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the influence of packaging design on food residue quantities. This study analyses the technical emptiability of dairy product packaging, building upon previously described methods and proposing new methods for a standardized analysis. The results demonstrate significant variations in residue amounts depending on product type, fat content, viscosity, packaging type and design, as well as consumer handling. The findings indicate that residues of high-viscosity products, such as yoghurt drinks and buttermilk, can accumulate to a level exceeding 4% of the total filling weight in the packaging; meanwhile, the residues of low-viscosity products, such as milk, collectively represent less than 1% of the total filling weight. Consumer handling instructions on packaging significantly reduce residues, as shown by the instruction to shake before opening, which notably decreases the residues of high-viscosity products. Future legislation to minimize food waste and reduce the environmental impact of packaging will necessitate that the packaging industry produces easy-to-empty packaging. This will improve sorting, recycling, recyclate quality, and environmental impact, consequently enhancing the sustainability of dairy packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue RETASTE: Rethink Food Resources, Losses and Waste)
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13 pages, 2402 KiB  
Conference Report
Rethinking Food Waste: Insights from the 2021 and 2022 RETASTE Conferences
by Thrassyvoulos Manios, Katia Lasaridi, Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos, Konstadinos Abeliotis and Christina Chroni
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 11254; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411254 - 22 Dec 2024
Viewed by 619
Abstract
The RETASTE Conference has established itself as a critical platform for advancing science and innovation on food waste management within the framework of circular economy practices. This editorial summarises the key themes and research presented at the first two RETASTE meetings, which focused [...] Read more.
The RETASTE Conference has established itself as a critical platform for advancing science and innovation on food waste management within the framework of circular economy practices. This editorial summarises the key themes and research presented at the first two RETASTE meetings, which focused on strategies such as the valorisation of food processing by-products, utilization of food waste for bioplastics, and development of waste-to-energy technologies. These studies demonstrate the potential to transform food waste from an environmental burden into valuable resources, thereby supporting both local and global sustainability objectives. The conference also highlighted the importance of integrating technology with policy and social aspects to drive transformation across the entire food system, while acknowledging the challenges that remain, including cultural, political, and administrative barriers that must be addressed for these innovations to be successfully scaled. The rebranding of the conference to “RETASTE: Rethink Food Resources, Losses, and Waste” signals a broader focus on the interconnectedness of food systems, emphasizing the need for continuous innovation and collaboration across all sectors. This editorial concludes that a holistic approach—combining technological advancements, social practices, and robust policy frameworks—is essential for effectively managing food waste and promoting sustainable food systems globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue RETASTE: Rethink Food Resources, Losses and Waste)
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