The ESG-FLW Index: A Multidimensional Composite Index for Comparing Food Loss and Waste Valorisation Pathways

Area of Science:

• Agri-food systems analysis
• Sustainability science
• Composite indicator development

Background:

• Food loss and waste (FLW) presents a significant global challenge.
• Current assessment tools for FLW valorisation are fragmented and lack multidimensionality.
• Existing frameworks often fail to integrate environmental, social, and economic-institutional feasibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the ESG-FLW Index, a novel composite index for evaluating FLW valorisation strategies.
• To provide a comprehensive framework for comparing recovery pathways, prioritizing human consumption.
• To support decision-making in sustainable food waste management.

Main Methods:

• Developed a multidimensional index integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA), and Social Return on Investment (SROI).
• Employed Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for aggregating components and ensuring robustness.
• Incorporated governance indicators (compliance, data-quality, scalability, replicability) and hurdle criteria.

Main Results:

• The ESG-FLW Index was applied to the CiboAmico redistribution program, comparing it with composting.
• Redistribution achieved a significantly higher score (85.1) than composting (30.7).
• Index rankings demonstrated stability under sensitivity analyses, including weight variations and Monte Carlo simulations.

Conclusions:

• The ESG-FLW Index provides a transparent, replicable, and robust decision-support tool for FLW valorisation.
• It facilitates the explicit comparison of sustainability trade-offs among different food waste recovery options.
• The index aligns with the Food Waste Hierarchy and SDG Target 12.3, promoting effective food waste reduction.