International Journal of Finance & Managerial Accounting

International Journal of Finance & Managerial Accounting

Circular Economy Approach to Reducing Food Waste

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Nafiseh Gholamian Rad 1
Alborz Hajikhani 2
Mohammad Mehdi MAZAHERI 3
1 Department of Management, UEA.C., Islamic Azad University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2 Department of Management, Hi.C., Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
3 Department of Management, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/ijfma.2025.78593.2271
Abstract
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to identify the factors influencing the reduction of food waste from a circular economy perspective. This study was quantitative in nature, applied in purpose, and descriptive-analytical in terms of methodology. The statistical population consisted of all managers and owners of food stores in the city of Qazvin, totaling 3,200 individuals. Among them, 384 individuals were selected as the sample using Cochran's formula and a simple random sampling method. A questionnaire was used for data collection. To assess validity, content validity was employed, and for reliability, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used. The normality of the variables was confirmed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the results of the Friedman test showed that operational management, commercial management, supply management, waste management, and water and energy management were prioritized in that order.
Keywords: Circular economy, food waste, entrepreneurship.

Introduction

The circular economy is one of the emerging economic topics that has garnered increasing attention from experts in recent years
Keywords
Circular economy
food waste
entrepreneurship
1.     Yazdi, N., & Hayati, D. (2013). Waste reduction: A future-oriented approach in extension. Journal of Agricultural Engineering and Natural Resources, 10(39), 24–30.
 
2.     Bigbabai, A., & Bashrooei Shargh, S. (2023). Comparison of food waste in Iran and the world and offering solutions for improvement. First National Conference on Food Security, Food Safety, and Health, Mashhad, Iran.
 
3.     Aghalar, H., & Aghalar, M. A. (2023). Factors affecting food waste generation by consumers at the retail level. 12th International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Productivity and Quality, Tbilisi,
 
1.     Georgia.
 
4.     Pishdar, M., Seyed Hashemi, M. R., Poorghader Choubar, A., & Sadri, M. S. (2024). Identification and evaluation of strategies to reduce fruit and vegetable losses at retail and consumer levels. Systems Engineering and Productivity, 4(2), 25–44.
 
5.     Hassanzadeh, M. (2017). Identification and analysis of factors influencing the implementation of green supply chain management and its impact on performance improvement (Case Study) [Master’s thesis, Alzahra University].
 
6.     Khosravani, F., Pezeshkirad, G., & Farhadian, H. (2016). Analysis of consumer behavior components related to food waste in Tehran. Journal of Food Science and Industries, 53(13), 173–183.
 
7.     Ranjbaran, R., Shabani, T., Nourbakhsh, M., & Shahsoni, L. (2023). The role of food waste in food security. 7th International Conference on Interdisciplinary Studies in Food Industry and Nutrition Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
 
8.     Salari, A., & Moradi, S. L. (2024). From waste to life: Realization of circular economy and sustainable waste management in Shiraz. International Conference on Urban Environmental Management, Shiraz, Iran.
 
9.     Sourani, F., & Ahmadvand, M. (2019). Household food waste and influencing factors in Najafabad County. Journal of Research in Agricultural Economics and Development of Iran, 50(2), 281–294.
 
 
10.                        Shahsoni Mojarad, L., & Madikhani, S. (2021). Factors influencing the reduction of food waste. 5th International Congress on Agricultural Development, Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism, Tabriz, Iran.
 
 
11.                        Shahdkar, F., Torabi, T., & Rahnamay Roodposhti, F. (2021). Identification and prioritization of factors affecting the implementation of the circular economy in SMEs. Journal of Applied Economic Theories, 11(38), 1–14.
 
 
12.                        Shirkhodai, M., Ehsani, M., & Sattari, M. (2017). The impact of environmental concerns on green product purchasing in retailing (Case: Customers of all retailers in Qaemshahr). First National Conference on Application of Modern Research in Humanities, Qaemshahr, Iran.
 
 
13.                        Sadri, M. S. (2023). Identification and evaluation of strategies for reducing food waste at the retail and consumer levels [Master’s thesis, University of Tehran].
 
 
14.                        Safar, M. M., Shakouri Ganjavi, H., & Razmi, J. (2017). Designing a green closed-loop supply chain considering operational risks under uncertainty using NSGA-II algorithm. Industrial Engineering Journal, 49(1), 55–68.
 
 
15.                        Azizi, A., & Khosravipour, B. (2021). Strategies for reducing and recycling food waste. First National Conference on Green Waste Management, Ardabil, Iran.
 
 
16.                        Fakhraei, M. M. (2024). Role model for selective waste collectors (waste pickers) in improving and enhancing the circular economy with the help of municipalities, NGOs, cooperatives, and associations. International Conference on Urban Environmental Management, Shiraz, Iran.
 
 
17.                        Falahati, S., Saadatnia, M., Ghanoati, E., Sheikholeslam Tankabeni, A., & Moazazi, Sh. (2022). Reducing food waste in retail stores. 5th National Conference on New Technologies in Food Science and Management, Tehran, Iran.
 
18.                        Ghorbanpour, A., Jalali, R., Parsa, H., & Hajiani, P. (2022). Discriminant analysis of food industry clusters based on circular economy components. Journal of Economic Research (Growth and Sustainable Development), 22(1), 33–52.
 
 
19.                        Morovati Sharifabadi, A., Mirghafouri, S. H., & Saebi Nasimabadi, V. (2016). Sustainable supply chain management: Benefits, barriers, and drivers. First International Conference on New Paradigms in Business and Organizational Intelligence Management, Tehran, Iran.
 
 
20.                        Moudi, K., & Hosseini, S. M. (2017). Consumer behavior and its impact on the retail industry and supply chain in industrial retail environments. National Conference on Scientific Research in Management,Accounting, Law, and Social Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
 
 
21.                        Haravi Talemi, S. N., & Ziaziabari, F. (2021). Processing of by-products and food waste. 7th International Conference on Food Industry Sciences, Organic Agriculture and Food Security, Tbilisi, Georgia.
 
 
22.                        Yeganeh, S., Ebrahimi, K., & Rezaei, N. (2024). Optimal waste management and circular economy in Shiraz: A strategy for sustainable development. International Conference on Urban Environmental Management, Shiraz, Iran.
2.     Ali, S.M., Moktadir, M.A., Kabir, G., Chakma, J., Rumi, M.J.U., & Islam, M.T. (2019). Framework for evaluating risks in food supply chain: implications in food wastage reduction. J. Clean. Prod. 228, 786–800.
3.     Aschemann‐Witzel, J., Randers, L., & Pedersen, S. (2023). Retail or consumer responsibility? —Reflections on food waste and food prices among deal‐prone consumers and market actors. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(4), 1513-1528.
4.     Brancoli, P., Rousta, K., & Bolton, K. (2017). Life cycle assessment of supermarket food waste. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 118 (2017) 39–46.
5.     Boulet, M., Hoek, A. C., & Raven, R. (2021). Towards a multi-level framework of household food waste and consumer behaviour: Untangling spaghetti soup. Appetite, 156, 104856.
6.     Cicatiello, C., Franco, S., Pancino, B., & Blasi, E. (2016). The value of food waste: An exploratory study on retailing. J. Retail. Consum. Serv. 2016, 30, 96–104.
7.     Deksne, J., Litavniece, L., Jelena Lonska, J., & Zvaigzne, A. (2023). CIRCULAR ECONOMY STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING FOOD WASTE IN SCHOOLS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW. Journal of Regional Economic and Social Development, 15, 29-39.
8.     de Souza, M., Pereira, G.M., Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, A.B., Chiappetta Jabbour, C.J., Trento, L.R., Borchardt, M., & Zvirtes, L. (2021). A digitally enabled circular economy for mitigating food waste: Understanding innovative marketing strategies in the context of an emerging economy. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
9.     FAO. (2011). Global food losses and food waste. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization.
10.                        FAO. (2019). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World: Safeguarding against Economic Slowdowns and Downturns; State of the World. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome, Italy, 2019.
11.                        Hong, J., Zhang, Y., & Ding, N. (2017). Sustainable supply chain management practices supply chain dynamic capabilities, and enterprise performance. Cleaner Production.
12.                        Khan, O., Daddi, T., Slabbinck, H., Kleinhans, K., Vazquez-Brust, D., & De Meester, S. (2020). Assessing the determinants of intentions and behaviors of organizations towards a circular economy for plastics. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 163, 105069.
13.                        Mattos, C.A., Scur, G., & Albuquerque, T.L.M. (2022). Evaluation of circular business model: Theory of Change approach. Evaluation and Program Planning, Volume 92, June 2022, 102069.
14.                        Mc Carthy, U., Uysal, I., Badia-Melis, R., Mercier, S., O’Donnell, C., & Ktenioudaki, A. (2018). Global Food security- Issues, challenges and technological solutions. Trends in Food Science & Technology, Vol.
15.                        77, PP. 11-20.
16.                        Petljak, k. (2021). FOOD WASTE AND FOOD LOSS IN THE RETAIL SUPPLY CHAIN. journal for the international and european law, economics and market integrations, 8 (2), 119-132.
17.                        Riesenegger, L., & Hübner, A. (2022). Reducing FoodWaste at Retail Stores—An Explorative Study. Sustainability, 14, 2494.
18.                        Saha, A. (2023). Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Waste Management in the Food Industry. Journal of Recycling Economy & Sustainability Policy, 2(2), 1-15.
19.                        Schuster, M., & Torero, M. (2016). Toward a sustainable food system: Reducing food loss and waste. IFPRI book chapters, in: 2016 Global Food Policy Report, chapter 3, pages 22-31, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
20.                        Schmidt, K., & Matthies, E. (2018). Where to start fighting the food waste problem? Identifying most promising entry points for intervention programs to reduce household food waste and overconsumption of food. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 139, 1-14.
21.                        Song, H., & Gao, X. (2017). Green supply chain game model and analysis under revenuesharing contract. Journal of Cleaner Production. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.138.
22.                        Stenmarck, A., Jensen, C., Quested, T., & Moates, G. (2016). Estimates of European Food Waste Levels; EU-FUSIONS: Stockholm, Sweden, 2016.
23.                        Tamasiga, P., Miri, T., Onyeaka, H., & Hart, A. (2022). FoodWaste and Circular Economy: Challenges and Opportunities. Sustainability, 14(16), 9896.
24.                        Teixeira, N., Rodrigues, R., & Antunes, t. (2025). Circular Economy Models for Reducing Food Waste and Enhancing Sustainability: A Case Study of Cooperative X. Circular Economy and Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-025-00571-x.
25.                        Teyfouri, A., & Rastegary, M. (2015). Food waste: The global perspectives and national outlook. Conference: First International Congress of Healthy Agriculture, Nutrition, and Community (ICANC) at Tehran. (In Farsi).