During my second Master in Environmental Science I decided to write my thesis about a subject that has always triggered me: food waste. In this master thesis research is conducted on how the University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA) can reduce the number of lost meals at patient level. These are meals that were ordered and arrived at the ward, but were never consumed.
Food loss has a significant ecological footprint because it not only involves emissions from food production, but also from waste processing. Besides an ecological aspect, food loss also implicates serious economic and social consequences.
A system analysis, literature review and two case studies were conducted. The cases were chosen based on thresholds identified with the help of a system map. Based on the research that was carried out, five recommendations were formulated for the UZA with the aim to help them combat food loss.
