Echoes from the Bin : A comparative study of bread waste in Gotland

Sammanfattning

Bread is one of the most widely consumed yet most wasted food items in modern retail systems.Despite its cultural and nutritional importance, a significant share of bread produced globally,and in Sweden in particular, is discarded before reaching consumers. This thesis addresses theproblem of bread waste in supermarkets by investigating its underlying causes, the role of supplychain practices, and the measures available for its reduction.The research incorporates a qualitative case study design and draws upon interviews with retailmanagers and members of the supply chain, with additional secondary data sourced fromacademic literature and industry reports. Differences in supply chain communication structuresand policies on the waste of bread explain the contrasting bread waste management outcomes inthe case of the two selected supermarket chains, ICA Atterdags and Stora-Coop. Stora-Coopemploys far more advanced strategies which include the reform of Take-Back Agreements(TBAs) and the repurposing of unsold bread, while ICA Atterdags is in the early stages ofdeveloping more systematic approaches. The TBA frameworks, which are prevalent in Sweden,are considered as both a source of waste and an opportunity for positive change.The analysis combines Food Supply Chain Management (FSCM) theory, which sheds light oninefficiencies, forecasting challenges, and coordination gaps, with Circular Economy (CE)theory, which reframes bread waste as a resource that can be redistributed, repurposed, orvalorised. Together, these perspectives provide a holistic framework for understanding breadwaste and for identifying interventions across production, retail, and consumption.By integrating empirical findings with theoretical insights, the study contributes to bothscholarship and practice. It enriches the literature on food waste by situating bread waste withinthe Swedish retail context, extends FSCM and CE applications, and offers actionablerecommendations for retailers, suppliers, and policymakers aiming to advance sustainable foodsystems