A Common Framework for Assessing Life Cycle Impacts of Food Waste Prevention, Valorisation & Treatment

A literature review showed that there is a gap between existing guidance on performing life cycle assessments (LCAs) and methodology actually applied in food waste related LCA case studies. In order to bridge this gap a common framework will be developed as part of the REFRESH project. The piece of work presented in this paper focuses on defining REFRESH Situations; these are clearly described circumstances that should help the LCA assessor of food waste related studies to identify more easily what type of situation he assesses. There are four REFRESH Situations: prevention at source, co-product valorisation, valorisation as part of waste management and end of life treatment. They have in common that they can take place at any point/process in the life cycle, take place within the remit of any stakeholder and should accommodate all final destinations. Using these REFRESH situations as part of a wider methodological framework will support assessors to examine the system under investigation in more detail and will help making decision making more transparent.