GHG emissions analysis of solid waste produced in a supermarket of Mass Market Retailers (MMR)

Over the years, Mass Market Retailers (MMR) have changed their different typologies of commercial spaces due to the evolution of the society, characterized by consumerism. This phenomenon has influenced a progressive increase in solid waste production within a supermarket. The aim of this study is to analyze in detail the issues related to the solid waste production in a supermarket and to highlight the possible improvements in MMR's solid waste management and disposal. A specific case study of a store, owned by Unicoop Firenze located in Empoli (Central Tuscany, Italy), was analyzed in order to improve the theoretical aspects, with effective and concrete experiences for the management and disposal of solid waste generated by distribution activities and marketing of food and non-food goods in the store. The analysis allowed to understand the waste quantities, typologies and collection methods, applied inside the different commercial departments of the store, as well as the disposal technologies used by the operator for the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management. Proposed and introduced innovations, especially in food waste and packaging reduction, have been tested. Moreover, benefits deriving from sustainable solutions have been calculated in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, quantifying the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) released to the atmosphere by different waste management and disposal activities. On the basis of this analysis, similar improvement programs in the solid waste management can be adopted by other stores. For example, this study could inspire other experiences aimed at creating biogas plants powered by organic wastes produced in the MMR. The adoption of packaging reduction and eco-design improvement practices could contribute to solid waste and related GHG emission reduction.