The Intellectual Map of Food Waste Research in the HoReCa Sector: A Systematic Bibliometric Analysis

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 121 - 141, 25.12.2025

Ayşe Nur Songür Bozdağ

Abstract

The objective of this research study is to map the intellectual and social structure of food waste in the HoReCa sector for the period 2015-2025 after the SDG 12.3. Reviewing the 358 articles that meet the selection criteria obtained through Systematic Bibliometric Analysis Based on Scopus Database The performance analysis deals with impact analysis (publication trends, productivity, and impact), network analysis (country, institution and author), and content analysis (co-occurrence of keywords and thematic clusters). The data shows that there was a significant increase in the number of publications from 2018 due to policy momentum of SDG 12.3. US and UK remained the most productive countries while the journals Sustainability, Waste Management and the Journal of Cleaner Production were the most impactful journals. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences yielded the highest impact at the institutional level, while the author-level impact was led by V. Filimonau. The United Kingdom plays a central bridging role in international collaboration, confirmed the network analyses. Thematic analysis reveals that the intellectual structure of the field has evolved into a multi-level framework organized around three distinct dimensions: (i) behavioral drivers (consumer perception and psycho-social determinants), (ii) strategic sustainability (circular economy and waste valorization), and (iii) sectoral specialization (institutional settings like schools and hospitals). This study provides a data-driven account of the post-SDG transformation of the field, documenting its paradigm shift from simple disposal to value creation.

Keywords

Food Waste , HoReCa , Bibliometric Analysis , Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 , Waste Management , VOSviewer

Ethical Statement

This study is among the studies that do not require ethics committee approval.

HoReCa Sektöründe Gıda İsrafı Araştırmalarının Entelektüel Haritası: Sistematik Bibliyometrik Analiz

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, 2015–2025 döneminde Birleşmiş Milletler Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amacı (SKA) 12.3’ün kabulü sonrasında HoReCa sektöründe gıda atığı araştırmalarının entelektüel ve sosyal yapısını haritalandırmak amaçlanmıştır. Sistematik bibliyometrik analiz yöntemiyle, seçilen kriterlere uyan 358 makale Scopus veritabanından elde edilen veriler doğrultusunda incelenmiştir. Veri analizinde performans analizi (yayın eğilimleri, üretkenlik ve etki ölçütleri), ağ analizi (ülke, kurum ve yazar işbirlikleri) ve içerik analizi (anahtar kelime birlikte görülme ve tematik kümelenme) yöntemleri kullanılmıştır. Bulgular, 2018’den itibaren SKA 12.3’ün politik etkisiyle yayın sayısında belirgin bir artış olduğunu göstermektedir. ABD ve Birleşik Krallık en üretken ülkeler olarak öne çıkarken; Sustainability, Waste Management ve Journal of Cleaner Production en etkili dergiler olarak belirlenmiştir. Kurumsal düzeyde ise Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences en yüksek etkiyi göstermiş, yazar düzeyinde V. Filimonau öne çıkmıştır. Ağ analizleri, uluslararası işbirliği bağlamında Birleşik Krallık’ın merkezi ve köprüleyici rolünü ortaya koymuştur. Tematik analiz, bu alanın entelektüel yapısının üç farklı boyut etrafında organize edilmiş çok düzeyli bir çerçeveye dönüştüğünü ortaya koymaktadır: (i) davranışsal etkenler (tüketici algısı ve psiko-sosyal belirleyiciler), (ii) stratejik sürdürülebilirlik (döngüsel ekonomi ve atık değerlendirme) ve (iii) sektörel uzmanlaşma (okullar ve hastaneler gibi kurumsal ortamlar). Bu çalışma, alanın SDG sonrası dönüşümünü veriye dayalı bir şekilde ele almakta ve basit bertaraf işleminden değer yaratmaya doğru olan paradigma değişimini belgelemektedir.

Keywords

Gıda İsrafı , HoReCa , Bibliyometrik Analiz , Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amacı 12.3 , Atık Yönetimi , VOSviewer

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