The Food Circularity Check is an innovative online tool designed to guide food companies toward adopting the circular economy. This self-assessment questionnaire analyzes company practices related to resource efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental, economic, and social impacts, with the goal of assessing the level of circularity achieved and identifying possible improvements.
An initiative of the NODES project
The questionnaire was developed within the NODES project, funded by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) through the PNRR (NextGenerationEU – Grant Agreement no. ECS000036). This project represents the research output of theCircular Economy For Wine (CEFW) Project, implemented in Spoke 7, which aims to innovate the Northwest agribusiness system through digital and sustainable approaches, addressing the challenges of ecological transition and digitization in the sector.
A solid, interdisciplinary research work
The Food Circularity Check stems from an integrated research pathway involving several project areas. Regulatory and social analyses, combined with an in-depth study of labor vulnerabilities in agricultural supply chains, led to the development of operational guidelines for integrating social sustainability into circularity measurement tools in the wine sector.
Come afferma Lorenzo Bairati, professore all’Università di Scienze Gastronomiche di Pollenzo e membro del team di progetto – composto da Prof. Franco Fassio, Prof. Simone Cinotto, Prof. Gabriele Proglio, Dott.ssa Donatella Saccone, Dott.ssa Paola Borrione, Dott.ssa Francesca Monticone, Dott.ssa Elena Corcione, Dott. Simone Mostratisi and Dr. Maira Campanella –“The aim is to propose guidelines to integrate the UNI/TS 11820:2022 standard with existing standards, improving the measurement of circularity in organizations, with a specific focus on the social dimension and the protection of human rights in the production chain.”
Discussions with key stakeholders, such as the certification body RINA, enriched the work with reflections on UNI standards, particularly UNI/TS 11820:2022, “Measuring Circularity – Methods and Guidelines for the Measurement of Circular Processes in Organizations,” developed to accelerate ISO work on the circular economy.
In this regard, Luigi Bottos, Head of ESG Product Management at RINA, explained, “At present, operator interest in this new standard is still low, as the indicators are complex to adapt to different sectors. However, increased adoption is expected when the UNI/TS 11820 technical specification is included in public tenders, which is a strong driver for companies to adopt certifications. Other drivers for farm adoption of social sustainability certifications are market demand and reputational needs “.
A practical and accessible tool
The questionnaire is designed to be simple, accessible and suitable even for small and medium-sized enterprises. The questions are divided according to the six categories in the UNI/TS 11820 standard and do not require sensitive data or production details.
Franco Fassio, professor at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo and project leader, stresses, “The questionnaire was structured in a simple and accessible way, with questions divided into the six categories provided by the standard. We wanted to offer clear guidance to companies, without having to ask them for sensitive and timely data related to their production of products or services. Nevertheless, the questionnaire offers a snapshot of company performance and guides toward more circular and responsible strategies “.
The tool enables a detailed self-assessment of the environmental impact and sustainable practices adopted by the company. At the end of the compilation, each organization can download a customized report that includes a graphical representation of the results and a final rating, with three levels: Excellent, Good or Insufficient.
Maira Campanella, Project Manager of the circulareconomyforfood.eu platform on which the tool can be used, explains, “The Food Circularity Check allows companies to conduct an in-depth assessment of their environmental impact and practices related to the circular economy. At the end of the process, each company can download a summary report accompanied by infographics, useful for identifying strengths and areas on which to build strategies to improve its level of circularity .”
In line with regulations: periodic update
The tool was developed in accordance with UNI/TS 11820:2022, which was recently updated to provide more flexibility in the choice of indicators and align with the ISO standard. The Food Circularity Check will then be updated periodically to reflect regulatory and technological developments and feedback gathered from the industry and those who will use the questionnaire.
A first step toward a more circular future
The Food Circularity Check is available online and can be completed in about 25 minutes. It represents the first step for all companies in the food sector who wish to become more circular, sustainable and competitive. With this tool, we aim to support companies in their transition to more responsible models in line with the environmental and social challenges of our time.
For more information and to access the questionnaire, visit the dedicated section on our website.
