Climate change impact of food distribution: The case of reverse logistics for bread in Sweden

Efficient and purposeful transport of food, from primary production to waste management, is essential drive the necessary transition towards sustainable consumption food within planetary boundaries. This particularly case for bread, one most frequently wasted items in Europe. In Sweden, bread often sold under a take-back agreement where bakeries are responsible transportation up supermarket shelf collection unsold products. provides an opportunity reverse logistics, but creates risk inefficient that could reduce environmental benefits prevention valorization surplus bread. study assessed climate change impact Sweden evaluated alternative pathways. Life cycle assessment revealed conventional transport, bakery gate be on average 49.0 g CO2e per kg with 68 % deriving long-distance 26 short-distance delivery, 6 transport. Evaluation pathways showed highest savings collaborative approach also reduced need small vehicles decreased distances. The overall contribution total was low all scenario routes analyzed, suggesting management facilitating high-value recovery prioritized without increasing due longer It has been claimed agreements related we identified long distances between retailers as main contributor impacts.