Jon StojanLos Angeles County faces a significant paradox: while 2.5 billion pounds of food (equivalent to 2 billion meals) are wasted annually, one in seven residents experiences food insecurity. This disparity not only deepens social inequities but also harms the environment, as food waste contributes to methane emissions and strains local landfills. To address these dual challenges, businesses, individuals, and policymakers must collaborate on sustainable solutions, such as enhancing food recovery systems and investing in food waste recycling to produce renewable energy. A comprehensive approach can help reduce waste, lower emissions, and provide food security for all residents.
Photo credit: Soubhik Kumar Bardhan
An expert at the intersection of sustainability and business strategy, Soubhik Kumar Bardhan has focused on promoting sustainability in business organizations. His work has produced practical managerial tools that enable firms to achieve sustainability goals while advancing environmental and social agendas. In his recent research, published in the International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Bardhan explores novel ways of how businesses can create value from food waste, presenting a new framework for state authorities to incentivize investments in food waste valorization. Here, we highlight some key insights from his research, offering valuable perspectives for addressing LA’s Food Waste Challenge.
Biofuels: Use waste food to generate clean energy
One of the most effective ways to utilize food waste is to convert it into biofuels. Biogas technologies like fermentation and anaerobic digestion transform organic waste into bioethanol and biogas, keeping waste out of landfills and producing renewable energy for Los Angeles. This dual approach reduces fossil fuel dependence while aligning with federal and state clean energy policies. By turning waste into biofuel, greenhouse gas emissions from conventional disposal are minimized, creating a sustainable cycle. Bardhan’s research has specifically highlighted how some high-value applications of biogas production, such as vehicle fuel, can be cost-efficient. Local businesses can contribute by incorporating biofuel production into their waste management systems, supported by government incentives to encourage widespread adoption.
Bioplastics: Variety of Sustainable Packaging Emerging from Food Waste
Food waste can be transformed into bioplastics, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based products and conventional plastics. Bardhan’s research has demonstrated how novel materials like citrus peels and apple pomace can be used to extract polymers to produce cost-efficient biodegradable plastics, providing a viable alternative to single-use, non-biodegradable plastics. These bioplastics give new purpose to waste products, transforming them into valuable materials. Given the ongoing issue of plastic pollution, bioplastics are a fitting solution for LA as businesses aim to phase out single-use plastics. Using food waste for bioplastics supports environmental restoration and encourages sustainable packaging, inspiring retailers and consumers toward eco-friendly choices.
Composting Initiatives: Enhancing Urban Agriculture
Composting is an effective method to turn food waste into nutrients-rich soil, supporting plant growth in urban spaces. A city-wide composting initiative could greatly benefit Los Angeles by encouraging residents to recycle food scraps, which could then support community gardens and local farms, increasing access to fresh, locally grown produce. Bardhan’s research is the first in scientific literature to highlight the immediate cost advantages of decentralized composting systems over centralized ones. These systems are known to process organic waste at or near its source and are more commonly known as community or on-site composting. Promoting decentralized composting among residents and businesses alike could also help LA meet its waste diversion goals, as organic waste would be diverted from landfills. This initiative would cultivate a city-wide culture of sustainability, fostering ecologically innovative spaces such as community gardens and strengthening local food networks.
Vision for building future sustainability of LA
Biofuel, bioplastics, and composting should form the core of Los Angeles’s new waste disposal system, creating meaningful environmental impact and addressing food needs. These strategies provide an opportunity for businesses to work alongside consumers in supporting local sustainability efforts. To tackle food insecurity and climate change, Los Angeles residents, businesses, and policymakers must collaborate to extract value from food waste. With supportive policies and incentives, the city can lead in effective food waste disposal and management, addressing these urgent issues in ways that reflect its unique challenges and disparities.
Soubhik Kumar Bardhan is a globally recognized scholar in business sustainability, ranked among the top ten thinkers in this field. His research, published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, was the first to advocate for “thoughtful regulation” of renewable chemical production by businesses to prevent conflicts with food production. His research has significantly influenced EU policies on renewable chemicals over the last decade. Bardhan has also played a pivotal role in developing McKinsey’s Sustainability Practice, guiding over 20 Fortune 500 companies in reaching their sustainability goals and has emerged as a prominent voice at sustainability events worldwide.