Modeling fluid milk waste using discrete event simulation and the role of packaging within the home

"U.S. consumers are the largest contributors to food waste generation (FWG), and few models have been created on how households waste food. This study examines how discrete-event simulation (DES) can identify areas for reducing FWG through packaging and consumer behavioral changes. Household model parameters included: amount and type of consumption, type and number of containers bought, buying behavior, and shelf life of milk. Simulations comparing the purchase of quart, half gallon, and gallon milk containers were run for 10,000 days to identify which package type reduced waste for 50 one, two and four-person households. Based on consumption averages from the U.S. National Dairy Council, results from the DES model suggest that if 1 and 4-person households change their purchasing behavior from 1 half-gallon to 1 quart and 2 gallons to 3 half-gallons, then they can reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from milk consumption by 33 and 12%, respectively, without reducing their total milk consumption. In simulated scenarios, purchasing more smaller containers equivalent to a larger size, decreased spoilage, but not enough to reduce a consumer's total milk consumption GHG emissions. Our model results also imply that packaging plays a miniscule role, 5% of the total milk consumption GHG impact; most of a consumer's impact comes from milk spoilage and consumption. Additional field-testing is necessary to validate the model."--Page ii.