Reducing Waste, Reducing Impact: LCA of the Food Bank of Greece's 2024 Operations

This study presents the environmental assessment of the actions undertaken by the Food Bank of Greece in 2024, focusing on the redistribution of surplus food. The assessment utilises the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, a comprehensive tool for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with the full life cycle of a product or service. The environmental impacts were evaluated using the EF 3.0 Method, encompassing 16 distinct impact categories, such as climate change, water use, acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity, and resource depletion. Data on food redistribution quantities were obtained and modelled using the Agribalyse database to quantify emissions and resource use. The results highlight that the redistribution of food by the Food Bank significantly contributes to the prevention of environmental burdens. Per kilogram of food, the actions in 2024 prevented the emission of approximately 3.41 kg CO₂-eq, the consumption of 2.95 m³ of water, and the use of 26.24 MJ of fossil energy. Among the various food categories, soft drinks, bakery and cereal products, and confectioneries were identified as having the highest environmental benefit in terms of impact prevention. The most significant environmental benefits were observed in the categories of climate change mitigation, freshwater ecotoxicity reduction, and acidification prevention. These findings underscore the dual benefit of food redistribution—not only addressing social needs but also contributing meaningfully to environmental sustainability by mitigating impacts that would have otherwise occurred through waste and additional production. The study supports the continuation and expansion of food redistribution initiatives as an effective strategy for reducing food waste and minimising the environmental footprint of the food system.