Toward a Greener Future: Applying Circular Economy Principles to Saudi Arabia’s Food Sector for Environmental Sustainability
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Framework for Evaluating Supply Chain Circularity in the KSA’s Food Sector
3.2. Circular Strategies and Frameworks
4. Results
4.1. Mapping a Possible CE in the Saudi Food Sector
4.2. Current Directions for CE Application
4.2.1. Food Waste Issues in the KSA and Recycling and Conversion of Food to Reduce Waste
4.2.2. Campaigning for Reducing Food Waste
4.2.3. Conversion and Recycling of Food Waste
5. Discussion
5.1. The KSA’s Current Condition for a Circular Economy
5.2. Vertical Farming to Implement the CE in the KSA
5.3. Sustainable Food Production
6. Conclusions
6.1. Brief Summary of the Results and Their Significance
6.2. Theoretical and Practical Implications
6.3. Limitations and Future Research Directions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Value Chain Steps | Perspectives | Circular Economy Principle | Strategy Description | Significance in the Food Sector |
---|---|---|---|---|
Extraction | Efficiency Recovery | Reduce Recover | Reducing input during the extraction process and procuring raw materials sustainably. Recovering product from raw materials. | Farmland is extremely scarce in the KSA. The crucial fossil fuels for food production are gas, power generators, and oil. Agricultural input is land, water, seed, implement, and fertilizer. Sustainability can be attained using renewable energy sources, such as solar and saline water. Retrieval of food products from soil. Using the land simultaneously for different purposes with multiple agricultural techniques. |
Manufacturing | Efficiency Recovery | Reduce Recover Redesign Remanufacture Recycle | Reducing the input during food production. Recovering and preserving food from being dumped in the bin. Redesigning manufacturing processes and equipment. Remanufacturing and thus reducing waste. Using recycled products in manufacturing. | Increasing food production efficiency through vertical farming; integrated terrestrial and marine systems; hydroponics and aquaponics; smart (sensor-based) greenhouses; sustainable soil intensification; enhanced crop diversity; improved plant control; and enhanced insect management [49]. Using recycled material for fresh production. Use of wastewater. |
Distribution | Efficiency Recovery | Reduce Recover Redesign | Reducing transportation damages. Recovering distribution losses. Redesigning distribution processes to make them more efficient. | Reducing fuel use during transportation. Using digital technology, artificial intelligence, supply chain sensors, sophisticated food containers, etc. |
Consumption | Responsibility Circularity Longevity | Reduce | Reducing the consumption of natural resources through proper planning and management. Using and making an essential amount of food. | Spreading awareness through social media and other media campaigning, education, and celebrity endorsement. Self-evaluation through footprint calculations and other such apps. |
Disposal | Waste food management and waste utilization. | Reuse Recycle Recover | Reusing food for animal feed. Reusing good (unspoiled) food for people in need. Recycling waste material; recovering and reusing useful material from it. | Designing and executing SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely) strategies. |
Source | Estimate | Data Source for Estimate |
---|---|---|
FAO, G [87] | 210 kg/cap/yr (food loss and waste; North Africa and West and Central Asia). | Literature search and information from local FAO offices/universities; assumptions and estimates based on comparable places/commodities/supply chain stages. |
COMCEC [89] | 119 kg/cap/yr (household). 733 kg/establishment/year (food service). | Self-report survey of 111 consumers and 94 food service establishments in Riyadh. |
GAS [90] | 14,220,000 metric tons of household solid waste/yr. This is equivalent to 458.5 kg/cap/yr of household solid waste. If this is 36% food, then food waste = 165.1 kg/cap/yr. | |
Saab, Tolba [91] | 1.5 kg/cap/day of solid waste (equivalent to 547.5 kg/cap/yr of solid waste). If this is 36% food, then food waste = 197.1 kg/cap/yr. | Solid waste analysis in cities such as Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. |
Khan and Kaneesamkandi [92] | 5.5 million tons/yr. | Solid waste experts reported that solid waste collected in KSA could contain 50.57% food. |
Al-Saif [93] | 28% of Saudi waste is food. 1.2–1.4 kg of food waste/person/day (511 kg/capita/yr). | N/A |
Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture [94] | 250 kg/cap/yr. | N/A |
Gazette [95] | 1/3 cooked food. | N/A |
BCFN [96] | 427 kg/cap/yr. | Estimate from Eta’am (Food Bank) director. |
Al-Fawaz, N [97] | Over 50% of food is wasted. Over 70% of food from public events is wasted | N/A |
Products | Loss | Waste | Total FLW | Value (Millions of Riyals) | FLW (kg/Capita) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wheat | 5.0% | 24.7% | 29.7% | 912.57 | 27.61 |
Rice | 3.0% | 30.6% | 33.6% | 1682.46 | 16.77 |
Dates | 15.6% | 5.8% | 21.4% | 588.05 | 4.12 |
Fish | 18.5% | 14.5% | 32.9% | 493.50 | 2.09 |
Poultry | 13.1% | 15.9% | 29.1% | 3407.97 | 13.39 |
All vegetables | 24.5% | 14.9% | 39.5% | 3407.97 | 30.87 |
Potatoes | 27.8% | 14.1% | 41.9% | 372.40 | 6.00 |
Carrots | 16.1% | 14.5% | 30.6% | 46.80 | 0.80 |
Zucchini | 25.6% | 15.4% | 41.0% | 74.20 | 1.10 |
Cucumber | 25.8% | 16.7% | 42.5% | 260.00 | 2.00 |
Onions | 8.4% | 17.2% | 25.6% | 167.00 | 3.50 |
Tomatoes | 23.1% | 16.5% | 39.6% | 428.50 | 8.00 |
Unclassified vegetables | 27.5% | 16.1% | 43.6% | 1252.00 | 10.00 |
All fruits | 24.3% | 15.3% | 39.6% | 2733.767 | 25.35 |
Watermelon | 32.0% | 9.0% | 41.0% | 253.90 | 4.62 |
Mango | 16.90% | 9.40% | 26.3% | 42.26 | 0.36 |
Orange | 14.50% | 13.50% | 28.0% | 180.65 | 3.07 |
Unclassified fruits | 22.50% | 17.50% | 40.0% | 2257.00 | 18.00 |
Meats | 16.40% | 14.90% | 31.3% | 576.30 | 2.30 |
Sheep | 6.80% | 7.70% | 14.5% | 401.40 | 0.65 |
Beef | 23.80% | 19.30% | 43.1% | 618.70 | 1.30 |
Camel | 14.50% | 19.70% | 34.2% | 149.70 | 0.40 |
All products | 14.20% | 18.90% | 33.10% | 20,307.097 | 184 |
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Almulhim, A.I. Toward a Greener Future: Applying Circular Economy Principles to Saudi Arabia’s Food Sector for Environmental Sustainability. Sustainability 2024, 16, 786. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020786
Almulhim AI. Toward a Greener Future: Applying Circular Economy Principles to Saudi Arabia’s Food Sector for Environmental Sustainability. Sustainability. 2024; 16(2):786. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020786
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlmulhim, Abdulaziz I. 2024. "Toward a Greener Future: Applying Circular Economy Principles to Saudi Arabia’s Food Sector for Environmental Sustainability" Sustainability 16, no. 2: 786. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020786