Enabling Sustainability in Local Food Supply Chains: A Life Cycle Assessment‐Based Approach

ABSTRACT

In response to escalating environmental and food security challenges, this study explores how Local Food Systems (LFS) and Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) can be redesigned to support sustainability goals. Drawing on a case study of a microalgae‐based food producer, the research applies a Resource Nexus Approach combined with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts across packaging, distribution and the end‐of‐life phase of the packaging. The study makes a key empirical contribution by demonstrating how targeted supply chain interventions, such as vending machine dispensing and hyperlocal e‐scooter delivery, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 47%. Theoretically, the research challenges the assumption that local food systems are inherently sustainable and reframes them as systems requiring deliberate, context‐sensitive design. By integrating systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and LCA, the study offers a replicable framework for food producers aiming to reduce environmental impact while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).