A multidisciplinary consortium, of which the University of Aveiro (UA) is a partner, is quantifying, reducing and valorising food waste by using it as a raw material for the development of new products and by incorporating sustainable packaging solutions, in line with the objectives of a circular economy. Within the framework of the QuaReVAlentejo27 project, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is coordinated by Paula Quinteiro and developed in co-promotion with Ana Cláudia Dias, researchers at CESAM/DAO, who are responsible for quantifying the environmental footprint of the new products.
“If food loss and waste were a country, they would be the third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world,” stated Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.
Against this background, QuaReVAlentejo27 proposes an integrated approach based on three key pillars: quantifying, reducing and valorising food waste. For the first time, rigorous procedures for the direct measurement of food waste will be implemented in five co-promoting companies, with the aim of achieving a minimum reduction of 15% in the waste generated.
Unavoidable waste will be valorised through its transformation into ten new products, including nine final food products such as cured ham products, jams and grape juices. These products, derived from materials currently treated as waste, will give rise to new business lines, contributing to the implementation of circular economy principles.
In parallel, the project adopts a comprehensive environmental sustainability approach. The new food products will be packaged using sustainable packaging solutions, and their environmental footprint will be assessed through Life Cycle Assessment, ensuring that the valorisation of food waste is carried out in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Life Cycle Assessment consists of the systematic analysis of environmental impacts across all stages of a product’s life cycle. This assessment follows the methodology formalised in ISO standards 14040 and 14044, including the definition of goal and scope, life cycle inventory, environmental impact assessment and interpretation of results.
Starting in January 2025 and with an expected duration of 36 months, the project is aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, highlighting the contribution of scientific and technological innovation to addressing global challenges such as hunger, food sovereignty and climate change.
The QuaReVAlentejo27 project is supported by the Innovation and Digital Transition Programme, under the framework of the Incentive System for Research and Development – Co-promotion Operations, involving an eligible investment of €1,328,004.48, resulting in a grant of €1,008,413.27.
Original news published in: UA News, 22 December 2025