Using blockchain technology to achieve sustainability in the hospitality industry by reducing food waste

Abstract

The hospitality industry generates significant food waste, leading to adverse environmental and economic impacts, social and ethical concerns, legal and regulatory issues, and operational challenges. The lack of traceability and trust among stakeholders in the hospitality industry exacerbates the expensive and difficult nature of food waste management. This work proposes a blockchain-based solution that aims to minimize food waste generated in hospitality outlets, thereby fostering a sustainable food ecosystem. Within this context, the term ’sustainable food ecosystem’ refers to the interconnected network of stakeholders involved in the responsible management of food resources within the hospitality industry. In this context, we categorize these stakeholders under the umbrella of ’food resource management entities,’ encompassing both food donation organizations and recycling companies, recognizing their distinct roles in the effective management of surplus food resources. With our proposed solution, businesses can track and verify the origin, movement, and disposal of food items in real-time, facilitating streamlined inventory planning, waste reduction, and heightened operational efficiency. Additionally, the proposed system ensures transparency and accountability, guaranteeing the proper and efficient disposal of food waste. Using a permissioned Ethereum network, our solution establishes seamless connectivity between food and beverage outlets and various food resource management entities. We present a generalized system for secure information sharing, integrating advanced algorithms tailored to capture and enhance trust among participating stakeholders. Furthermore, our thorough security analysis underscores the robustness of our proposed solution, effectively addressing various security vulnerabilities. Lastly, the proposed blockchain-based solution is commercially viable, enabling the hospitality industry to operate with enhanced efficiency while providing improved information connectivity for various stakeholders in the food supply chain.