Food waste and social acceptance of a circular bioeconomy: the role of stakeholders

To be socially accepted widely, the emerging circular bioeconomy needs to rely increasingly on residual bio-based feedstock and waste, hence reducing its dependency on crops which are in competition with agriculture/food markets. Food waste represents a valuable option as it allows for the production of a wide range of bio-based products ranging from biofuels to bioplastics. First suc-cessful experiences have shown that the involvement of stake-holders with different behaviours, values and backgrounds is a key enabler of the process. In particular, it acts as a key precondition for an increase in the social acceptability of the facilities by informing citizens and civil society organizations and, at the same time, it improves the feedstosck availability by increasing coordination between actors dealing with waste management.