Bridging the Gap: Evaluating the Strategic Alignment of Food Losses and Waste Prevention and Reduction Business Models within Sustainable Circular Economy System Thinking

Bridging the Gap: Evaluating the Strategic Alignment of Food Losses and Waste Prevention and Reduction Business Models within Sustainable Circular Economy System Thinking | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Bridging the Gap: Evaluating the Strategic Alignment of Food Losses and Waste Prevention and Reduction Business Models within Sustainable Circular Economy System Thinking María Jesús Muñoz-Torres, Idoya Ferrero-Ferrero, Juana María Rivera-Lirio, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8551934/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The transition toward a circular economy is essential for advancing sustainable development, particularly in the food sector, where substantial losses and waste generate environmental, social, and economic impacts. This study investigates how business models aimed at preventing and reducing food loss and waste (FLWPR) strategically align with circularity and sustainability principles across micro, meso, and macro levels. We introduce a framework to assess the strategic alignment of FLWPR business models, integrating circular economy principles, sustainability dimensions, and cross‑level interdependencies. The framework will be examined through a case study of a company operating school canteens. By strengthening the strategic foundations of FLWPR business models, this research contributes to the development of a more sustainable and circular agrifood system. JEL classification: M14, M21 Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental social sciences Food systems food losses and waste prevention and reduction business models (FLWPR-BM) circular economy (CE) agrifood system strategic consistency and sustainability Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files SuplementaryMaterial.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers invited by journal 07 May, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 27 Apr, 2026 Editor invited by journal 22 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 23 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 23 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8551934","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":641598978,"identity":"9853b1e2-5e45-4132-924c-e5f86945d265","order_by":0,"name":"María Jesús Muñoz-Torres","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Jaume I University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"María","middleName":"Jesús","lastName":"Muñoz-Torres","suffix":""},{"id":641598979,"identity":"57b33d9d-2314-4c07-a9d6-3892d7fe0405","order_by":1,"name":"Idoya Ferrero-Ferrero","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Jaume I 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