Towards better life cycle assessment and circular economy: on recent studies on interrelationships among environmental sustainability, food systems and diet

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on examining and enhancing the theoretical basis and robustness of existing methods and practices of life cycle assessment (LCA) and circular economy, when studying the interrelationships among environmental sustainability, food systems and human dietary choice. This study also provides possible directions for improving current methods and practices of LCA, and for harmonized use of LCA and different systemic approaches. This paper first examines the actual level of complexity of the feedback and pathways within the larger system consisting of food system sustainability and dietary choice, and investigates the interconnection between systems thinking, LCA and circular economy. Then through a systematic review, this study critically evaluates the strengths and weaknesses in the methods and practices of current LCA on the interrelationships among environmental sustainability, food system and human dietary choice. Moreover, this study gives suggestions on improving current methods and practices, and devising more holistic practices through rethinking and applying systems thinking approaches. We suggest using systems thinking, stronger boundary critique, inclusion of broader phases and sustainability indicators, and focusing more on the sustainability impact of consumption-based activities in food life cycle, and further developing selection criteria for indicators to improve the current methods and practices of LCA and circular economy. This paper is expected to facilitate future system dynamic modeling of the interrelationship among environmental sustainability, food system, and human dietary choice and health.

KEYWORDS:

• Food system
• systems thinking
• circular economy
• life cycle assessment
• food sustainability
• circular bioeconomy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

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