CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN AIRPORT CATERING OPERATIONS

Overview

Airport catering operations, encompassing food and beverage production and in-flight catering across high-volume production environments, present significant sustainability challenges. This research investigates the feasibility of implementing circular economy practices within airport catering to mitigate external and internal operational costs through waste reduction, material reuse, recycling, and localized sourcing strategies.

Methods and approach

The study employed a qualitative research design centered on a multinational airport catering operator managing over 200 outlets. Data collection methodologies included preliminary research, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. Thematic analysis was applied to synthesize findings, which were subsequently mapped onto the Integrated Circular Economy Model for Airport Catering Operations (ICE-AC Model), a framework developed to structure the applicability of circular principles within the sector.

Key Findings

The research identified airport catering as a viable domain for circular economy implementation. Documented practices were identified primarily in waste and byproduct recycling, stakeholder awareness initiatives, and corporate social responsibility programs. However, current adoption patterns demonstrated a predominantly instrumental orientation, wherein circular practices functioned as mechanisms for cost reduction and competitive positioning rather than as systemic sustainability measures. Individual practices remained disconnected from comprehensive circular business frameworks.

Implications

Meaningful advancement of circular economy in airport catering operations requires substantive organizational restructuring beyond isolated waste management interventions. The transition necessitates fundamental reorientation of managerial philosophy and establishment of integrated circular business models aligned with industrial ecology principles. Current practice demonstrates the sector's technical capacity for circular implementation, yet organizational and strategic barriers constrain movement toward systemic transformation.