PurposeAlthough post-secondary campus food services are promising contexts for promoting plant-forward diets, little information exists on adoption and the nature of implementation across Canada. The purpose of this study was to identify major patterns of implementing plant-forward main dishes across the institutional members of the Canadian College and University Food Service Association.Design/methodology/approachThe online survey included questions on past and current offerings of plant-forward main dishes across campus food services, the timing of transitions, relevant inner and outer setting variables and facilitators and barriers to implementing plant-forward dishes. Responses were received from 34 of 85 members (40%).FindingsThe percentage of plant-forward to overall main dish offerings varied widely, with a median of 17% in 2018-2020, doubling to 35% in 2023-2024. When the sample was divided into three subgroups: no-meal-plan group (n = 8), late adopters (adopted 1-4 years ago: n = 13) and early adopters (adopted 5+ years ago: n = 12), the percentage of offerings had significantly risen among early and late adopters but remained low for the no-meal-plan group. While meat-free main dishes were commonly available across all the groups, a larger number of variants with partial meat substitution were available among early adopters compared to the other groups. Barriers were more variable than facilitators. Late adopters reported significantly more barriers to implementation than the other two groups on some measures; while the no-meal plan group reported the lack of infrastructure, compared to the other groups.Originality/valueThis study indicates substantial differences in the number and types of plant-forward main dishes currently being offered across Canada. Barriers differ among subgroups, with practical implications for further promotion of plant-forward dishes.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify consumer segments for the Canadian population based on factors guiding their food choices, to leverage their preferences and dietary characteristics as a robust starting point for the development of interventions aimed at promoting sustainable eating behaviours.Design/methodology/approachAn online nation-wide survey was developed and administered collecting socio-demographic and food attitude and behaviour related data. A total of 3,329 respondents were included in the study. Using exploratory factor analysis to identify the determinants of food choices, followed by a cluster analysis, respondents were grouped into segments to create relatively homogeneous groups.FindingsFive factors were identified as determinants of food choices including: sustainability and health, food influencers, joy and pleasure, convenience and familiarity. Six consumer segments were also identified: the "concerned" consumer, the "trend and tradition-follower" consumer, the "conventional" consumer, the "eat what you love" consumer, the "sustainable and healthy" consumer and the "convenience seeker." This study highlighted that convenience and familiarity tend to be important deciding factors of food choices across all segments, and almost one fifth of the consumers were reluctant to try new food concepts or brands, further emphasising the importance of familiarity. Finally, respondents reported health as one of the main reasons why they would make short-term or long-term dietary changes, and health and sustainability, were deciding factors for many consumers.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the field of consumer segmentation as it is applied to sustainable eating patterns, and to leverage points for transforming the food system. Additionally, this study used the social cognitive theory as the underlying framework to create consumer segments, and it provides a more effective understanding of the Canadian population's eating patterns, identifying two new segments. Finally, the findings support the necessity of a transition towards sustainable eating behaviours through a systems approach rather than focusing on individual level interventions that create short-term adjustments.

Many studies have assessed the life cycle impacts of national eating patterns, but few have explored the differences in environmental impacts of regional eating patterns within a country, which can differ due to geographical, cultural, socio-economic, and systemic factors such as food policies and food environments. This study characterizes the global warming potential (GWP) of eating patterns across ten provinces in Canada, identifying key foods driving these impacts and evaluating protein intake ratios. Meat consumption varies across regions, with the highest consumed meat being poultry. Across all regions, average intakes of protein-rich plant-based foods (including pulses, nuts, and seeds) are lower than total meat and fish consumption. The GWP of eating patterns ranges from 4.31 to 5.04 kg CO2e per 2000 kcal. Animal-based protein foods, particularly beef, contribute to 67 % of the GWP, while protein-rich plant-based foods contribute just 1 %. Average protein intake from animal-based foods is consistently higher than from plant-based foods, with an average ratio of 65:35 across the provinces. A scenario analysis for Ontario, the most populous province in Canada, showed that changing protein intake ratios from 65:35 to 50:50 and 40:60 resulted in GWP reductions of 18 % and 27 %, respectively. Strategies for dietary shifts should focus on increasing plant-based protein consumption while reducing animal-based protein intake to lower the climate change impacts of eating patterns, all while maintaining sufficient protein levels.

Food systems are a major driver of resource depletion and environmental degradation globally, with livestock-derived food production accounting for a disproportionate fraction of these impacts. At the same time, meat, eggs, and dairy products are important sources of protein, energy, and micronutrients in human diets. Higher rates of red and processed meat consumption has, however, also been linked to increased heath risks in high-income countries. Given the important role that livestock-derived foods play in both planetary and human health, it is important to understand patterns in their consumption and how these have changed over time. Here, we report and assess changes in Canadian apparent consumption of livestock-derived foods, as both mass of edible unprocessed products and total contained protein, between 1960 and 2020. We used Statistics Canada food availability data, as it is the closest available proxy for historical consumption data. The animal foods included are dairy, eggs, and chicken, turkey, pork, and beef meat, with results expressed in kilograms of boneless meat, shell-less eggs, and total milk solids per capita per year. Total national apparent livestock food consumption was also calculated, by multiplying annual per capita availability by national population, for each year included in this analysis. Results indicate that, over the last six decades, apparent per capita consumption of livestock-derived foods in Canada has remained surprisingly constant, peaking in the 1970s at 108 kg/person/year, and varying narrowly between 91-101 kg/person/year for the most recent 35 years. The composition of Canadians' livestock-derived food intake, however, does appear to have changed markedly, with apparent consumption of beef declining since its zenith in the late 1970s, while the apparent consumption of chicken meat has grown rapidly. Substantial reductions in the consumption of livestock foods in Canada are required to stay within planetary boundaries.

Textile waste is a new waste category, and there is a lack of research on the quantity and quality of textiles in the municipal waste stream. Textile quality analysis (i.e., the condition of the item and its fibre content) is partic-ularly time-consuming and requires specific textile and grading knowledge; however, it is essential in deter-mining possibilities for reuse and recycling. Likewise, there is a lack of methods for conducting textile waste assessments. This study presents a novel procedure for assessing textile waste, starting with a definition of textile waste from the perspective of the circular economy and waste management. The assessment procedure uses textile collectors for categorizing and grading textiles, and categorizes textiles into six categories and 44 sub-categories. The researchers analyzed 1767.6 kg of textile waste or 10,716 items, collected from Ontario mu-nicipalities over three periods from 2019 to 2020. Textiles made up 4.4% of the residential waste stream. Based on 2018 data on Canadian waste generation, we estimate that Canada-wide, this would result in 176,343 tonnes of textile waste, or 12 kg of textile waste per person. We found that 65% of this waste could be reused, and 21% recycled. Diverting this waste would result in large environmental benefits and economic savings. Currently, managing this waste is expensive and represents a missed opportunity to utilize materials that could have either been reused or recycled. We conclude that there are opportunities for increasing the circularity of textiles through various waste diversion programs in Ontario.

Purpose University students are a unique population with great potential to adopt eating habits that promote positive human and planetary health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the current perceptions of sustainable eating behaviours among the students and to examine the determinants of sustainable eating behaviours. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from December 2020 to May 2021 through focus group discussions among university students in Ontario, facilitated through synchronous online sessions. There were 21 student participants during the course of five focus group sessions (4–5 participants per session) from various departments within the university. The discussions were transcribed and analyzed for main themes and concepts using open coding; deductive coding based on the framework by Deliens et al. as well as the literature; and inductive coding for emerging themes. Findings The students had different perceptions about what constituted sustainable eating behaviours, some of which were not based on fact. A variety of individual, environmental (macro, micro and social) and university characteristics were mentioned as factors influencing sustainable food choices, with “food literacy” and “campus food” being the top two factors. Originality/value This study presents a novel and holistic overview of how sustainable eating behaviours and sustainable foods are perceived among university students and identifies the perceived determinants of adopting sustainable eating behaviours. This study helps with identifying opportunities to promote sustainable eating behaviours among university students and the design/implementation of informed interventions and policies aimed at improving eating behaviours.

Approximately 5% of the global anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are generated from cement manufacturing. Partial substitution of the clinker in the portland cement with supplementary cementingmaterials (SCM) is a solution to reduce the CO2 emission associated with cement production. Binders containing SCM, specifically designed for road applications, are called hydraulic road binders (HRB). A comparative life cycleassessment (LCA) was conducted to assess the effects of different HRB on the environmental impacts of the full-depth reclamation process. Three different types of HRB and general use cement were used to stabilise reclaimedpavement material containing 60% RAP. The pavement design and performance prediction were done using AASHTOWare Pavement ME. The life cycle impact assessment was performed with Athena software. The results of theanalysis indicated that using HRB, with low clinker content, in the full-depth reclamation implementation could reduce global warming potential by up to 27%.

Purpose The purpose of this research is to (1) identify factors affecting food choices of young adults in Canada based on environmental perceptions, personal and behavioral factors as determinants of eating behaviors; (2) segment Canadian young adults based on the importance of the identified factors in their food choices. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was administered to Canadians aged between 18 and 24 to collect data on socio-demographic factors and eating behaviors (N = 297). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to identify the main factors affecting eating behaviors in young adults, followed by K-means clustering to categorize the respondents into consumer segments based on their propensity to agree with the factors. Findings Six factors were extracted: beliefs (ethical, environmental and personal); familiarity and convenience; joy and experience; food influencers and sociability; cultural identity; and body image. Using these factors, six consumer segments were identified, whereby members of each segment have more similar scores on each factor than members of other segments. The six consumer segments were: "conventional"; "concerned"; "indifferent"; "non-trend follower"; "tradition-follower"; and "eat what you love". Originality/value Identifying major factors influencing eating behaviors and consumer segmentation provides insights on how eating behaviors might be shaped. Furthermore, the outcomes of this study are important for designing effective interventions for shaping eating behaviors particularly improving sustainable eating habits.

The purpose of this manuscript is to review LCA studies of organic field crops to identify best practices in collecting life cycle inventory data. Previous LCA studies of organic field crops from 2010 to 2021 were identified and data were collected in the following categories: 1) crops studied, 2) geographical locations and spatial resolution, 3) life cycle inventory data collected, 4) models used for estimating changes in soil carbon and for estimating field-level emissions and their associated data inputs. Based on these data, recommendations were made with respect to the best data to collect, and emissions and soil carbon models to use for LCAs of organic field crops. Based on the assessment of LCI inventory data collected for activities, inputs and emissions modelling, a list of recommendations for future LCI data collection for organic field crops was tabulated. This included the data that should come directly from farmers, as well as data from secondary sources, and the specific models that can be used for soil carbon and emissions modelling. The recommendations made based on the LCI data identified can be used to inform data collection for high quality, regionally resolved LCAs of organic field crop production.

Many studies have evaluated the life cycle environmental impacts of diets based on a single period, but few studies have considered how environmental impacts of diets change over time, even though dietary patterns (DPs) change due to policy and socio-demographic factors. This study evaluated changes in the global warming potential (GWP) of DPs in the province of Ontario, Canada, using a life cycle assessment. We quantified the farm-to-fork GWP of six DPs (Omnivorous, No Pork, No Beef, No Red Meat, Pescatarian, and Vegetarian), using dietary intake data from a 2014 and 2015 survey. Throughout this period, the biggest decrease in GWP was for DPs containing beef, even though these DPs still have the highest GWP (3203 and 2308 kg CO2e, respectively, based on the annual energy intake of one individual). Across all DPs, plant-based proteins contributed less than 5% to GWP, while meat and fish contributed up to 62% of the total GWP. Ten-year GWP reductions are insufficient to meet climate change and other sustainability goals, and major dietary shifts are needed, particularly substituting animal-based proteins with plant-based proteins. To design effective interventions for shifting towards sustainable diets, research is needed to understand how socio-demographic and regional differences influence individuals’ food choices.

Nanotechnology has important roles to play in international efforts in sustainability. We discuss how current and future capabilities in nanotechnology align with and support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. We argue that, as a field, we can accelerate the progress toward these goals both directly through technological solutions and through our special interdisciplinary skills in communication and tackling difficult challenges. We discuss the roles of targeting solutions, technology translation, the circular economy, and a number of examples from national efforts around the world in reaching these goals. We have formed a network of leading nanocenters to address these challenges globally and seek to recruit others to join us.

A non-trivial challenge along egg supply chains is inefficient use of nitrogen, which may have a combination of negative economic, human/animal health, and environmental implications. A variety of technologies and management strategies have been proposed to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and reduce emissions at key supply chain stages. This study considered seven scenarios representing NUE strategies: (1) biochar addition to the soil and (2) application of the "4Rs" approach to fertilizer management in feed input production; (3) a reduced crude protein supplemented with synthetic amino acids diet; (4) use of acid scrubbers in poultry barns; (5) biochar addition to stored manure; (6) manure incorporation at the time of land application; and (7) joint application of all strategies. ISO 14044 compliant environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) along with NUE calculations were performed to analyze and compare these mitigation options. The functional unit was one tonne of egg production at the farm gate in Canada. The most significant increase in NUE (13%) resulted from the application of the scrubber in the layer barn. The scrubber also significantly lowered acidifying (21%) and eutrophying (16%) emissions compared to the baseline. The combined application of all strategies increased NUE by 15% compared to the baseline scenario and reduced acidification, global warming, and eutrophication potential, but at the cost of a large increase in energy consumption. Each strategy might be more or less suitable depending on the considered environmental impacts, as well as NUE outcomes. Use of LCA is essential to informed decision making in this context.

Interventions are urgently needed to transform the food system and shift population eating patterns toward those consistent with human health and environmental sustainability. Postsecondary campuses offer a naturalistic setting to trial interventions to improve the health of students and provide insight into interventions that could be scaled up in other settings. However, the current state of the evidence on interventions to support healthy and environmentally sustainable eating within postsecondary settings is not well understood. A scoping review of food- and nutrition-related interventions implemented and evaluated on postsecondary campuses was conducted to determine the extent to which they integrate considerations related to human health and/or environmental sustainability, as well as to synthesize the nature and effectiveness of interventions and to identify knowledge gaps in the literature. MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL, Scopus, and ERIC were searched to identify articles describing naturalistic campus food interventions published in English from January 2015 to December 2019. Data were extracted from 38 peer-reviewed articles, representing 37 unique interventions, and synthesized according to policy domains within the World Cancer Research Foundation's NOURISHING framework. Most interventions were focused on supporting human health, whereas considerations related to environmental sustainability were minimal. Interventions to support human health primarily sought to increase nutrition knowledge or to make complementary shifts in food environments, such as through nutrition labeling at point of purchase. Interventions to support environmental sustainability often focused on reducing food waste and few emphasized consumption patterns with lower environmental impacts. The implementation of integrated approaches considering the complexity and interconnectivity of human and planetary health is needed. Such approaches must go beyond the individual to alter the structural determinants that shape our food system and eating patterns.

AbstractObjective:To develop and test a tool to assess the price and availability of low-carbon footprint and nutritionally balanced dietary patterns in retail food environments in Ontario, Canada.Design:Availability and price of selected food from discount and regular grocery stores (n 23) in urban/rural areas of northern/southern Ontario were assessed with the Sustainable Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in 2017.Setting:Ontario, Canada.Results:Inter-rater reliability was high for price (intra-class correlation coefficients = 0·819) and for availability (Cohen’s κ = 0·993). The tool showed 78 % of the selected food items were available in all stores. Overall, price differences were small between urban and rural locations, and northern and southern Ontario. The greatest price difference was between discount and regular stores.Conclusions:The tool showed excellent inter-rater agreement. Researchers and public health dietitians can use this tool for research, practice and policy to link consumer-level health outcomes to the retail environment.

One of the main challenges in crop-livestock systems is an inefficient use of nitrogen, which precipitates a variety of negative economic, human/animal health, and environmental impacts. This review aims to identify and compare potentially efficacious technologies and management strategies that reduce nitrogen emissions and improve nitrogen use efficiency along crop-livestock supply chains, with an emphasis on the egg sector. Studies addressing the mitigation of reactive nitrogen emissions at key supply chain stages, including feed input production, feed formulation, and manure management were reviewed. The assessment was based on a combination of environmental, technical and economic criteria. Several priority mitigation options were identified. This included implementation of “4Rs” practices and biochar addition to cropland at the feed input production stage, and reduced crude protein diets supplemented with synthetic amino acids or enzymes at the feed formulation stage. For manure management, three substages were considered. Promising strategies identified for these substages were: implementation of mechanical ventilation and bedded systems, along with use of manure belts or scrapers and ammonia scrubbers in poultry housing; covering and adding biochar to manure at the manure storage; and incorporating manure at the land application stage. We also underscore that nitrogen use efficiency efforts should consider all major reactive nitrogen species as well as potential interactions between mitigation options across supply chain stages, while simultaneously considering other potential resources and environmental impacts so as to prevent unintended burden shifting. Towards this end, nitrogen use efficiency initiatives should be supported by detailed life cycle assessment research to elucidate potential interactions, minimize burden-shifting, and maximize systems-level efficacy.

Food loss and waste has become an increasingly discussed topic in recent years due to the associated economic and environmental burden. Knowledge and methodological gaps in quantifying food waste generation have been identified as the major obstacles in addressing the food waste generation issues by several researchers. Lack of standard methodology in quantifying food waste at households had led researchers to employ numerous methods that would generate incomparable results. Considering the absence of a critical and comprehensive review of food waste quantification methods, the current study aims at presenting a thorough literature review to compare household food waste quantification methods with special focus on methods addressing composition analysis. In this review, a total of 45 studies considering four main food waste (FW) quantification methods, namely surveys, kitchen diaries, waste audits and estimates based on secondary data are reviewed in detail to compare the strengths and limitations of each method. The need for standardized methodologies for household food waste quantification is further emphasized.

Current policies and programs to reduce consumer food waste are largely based on changing behaviours rather than addressing the underlying drivers of these behaviours. This article builds on previous structural approaches to understand underlying motivations of food waste-related behaviours. Our findings suggest that efforts to address food waste at the household level must be integrated with broader policies relating to food access and food insecurity, particularly those that seek to address food insecurity at the systems level. We use a visceral material framework to analyze and interpret data from thirteen households, with seventeen participants, in Ontario, Canada, including interviews, participant observation, and food waste measurements. We demonstrate that a visceral-material framework is useful in highlighting complex drivers of household food waste that are often missed in other studies: Although this work confirms previously identified barriers to reduce household food waste (e.g. identity, food packaging, low food literacy), we also draw out multi-scalar and interacting drivers of food waste, such as differing spatial access to food, and complex relationships with food due to past experiences of food abundance or food insecurity.

Sustainably feeding the next generation is often described as one of the most pressing “grand challenges” facing the 21st century. Generally, scholars propose addressing this problem by increasing agricultural production, investing in technology to boost yields, changing diets, or reducing food waste. In this paper, we explore whether global food production is nutritionally balanced by comparing the diet that nutritionists recommend versus global agricultural production statistics. Results show that the global agricultural system currently overproduces grains, fats, and sugars while production of fruits and vegetables and protein is not sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of the current population. Correcting this imbalance could reduce the amount of arable land used by agriculture by 51 million ha globally but would increase total land used for agriculture by 407 million ha and increase greenhouse gas emissions. For a growing population, our calculations suggest that the only way to eat a nutritionally balanced diet, save land and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to consume and produce more fruits and vegetables as well as transition to diets higher in plant-based protein. Such a move will help protect habitats and help meet the Sustainable Development Goals.