Food Technology and Biotechnology Environmental Policy 

 

Food Technology and Biotechnology promotes responsible consumption of natural resources, waste reduction, recycling and reuse of the material. Journal editors are actively promoting environmental awareness and sustainability practices in editing and publishing. 

Editorial office has undertaken activities promoted in the Environmental sustainability and scientific publishing: EASE manifesto:


2022 activities:

  • The journal has signed the UN SDG Publishers Compact.
  • A person for monitoring SDG progress and coordinating journal activities is appointed.
  • Number of printed copies is reduced to a required minimum.
  • All other material is distributed electronically. 
  • In-person meetings and travelling are reduced to a minimum.
  • Energy-efficient appliances are being used.
  • Halogen bulbs are replaced with energy-saving LED bulbs.
  • Office heating and cooling is reduced to a minimum.
  • Recycling bins are installed at the office building.
  • Only reusable cups and dishes are used.
  • Consumption of locally grown, seasonal food and tap water is being promoted. 
  • Usage of public transport, cycling or walking is being promoted.
  • Flexible working hours are enabled to reduce commuting during rush hours. 

                                                                                                                     
2023 activities:

Besides activities listed above, further steps were undertaken:

  • An option for authors to choose SDGs related to the subject of the paper is included in the online submission system.
  • Logotypes with the link to the SDGs assigned to the paper are published at the journal website next to the abstract of the paper.
  • An editorial explaining the need to join the UN SDG Publishers Compact Initiative and which steps had the journal undertaken
    was published in issue 1/2023.
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion policy is being implemented in the editorial work, with the special emphasis on gender equity
    (58 % female Field editors, 39 % male, and 3 % other).
  • PUBMET2023 Conference session: "Environmental awareness and sustainability in scholarly communication" was co-organised
    with the Croatian Association for Scholarly Communication and EASE.
  • 15 articles (33 %) published in FTB journal were tagged with related SDGs.


2024 activities: 

  • Published papers with assigned SDGs were marked at the journal website and social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin).
  • An editorial explaining the journal progress related to the SDGs was published in issue 1/2024.
  • Collaboration with EASE and HESI on the survey about SDG Publishers Compact and EASE Manifesto.
  • Article with the results of the survey published in the European Science Editing.
  • Organisation of webinars on topics related to the SDGs.
  • 19 articles (41 %) published in FTB journal were tagged with related SDGs.


2025 activities: 

  • 40 articles (87 %) published in FTB journal in 2025 were tagged with related SDGs, which is an increase of 100 % compared to 2024.
  • Authors have assigned various SDGs to their work, from SDG1 to SDG14, with most of them choosing SDG3 (Good health and well-being), SDG12 (Responsible consumption and production), SDG9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) and SDG2 (Zero hunger); SDG3 and SDG12 were assigned to more than 50 % of articles.
  • Published papers and related SDGs were promoted on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky).
  • Special issue 2/2025 was published, entitled „Turning Agricultural Waste into Useful Biochemicals and Biofuels Through Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnological Processing“, with 10 articles that provide actionable insights for global policymakers, industrial leaders and researchers with an interest in green and sustainable agricultural farming.
  • Gender distribution of corresponding authors was monitored: 301 female, 229 male, 19 n/a.
  • Gender balance of reviewers was considered.
  • Submissions were received from 66 countries, from the Global South (which was predominant in 2025) to Global North.
  • Journal editor was engaged in the development of the EASE SDG Checklist and its promotion at the 18th EASE Conference in Oslo.
  • SDG Checklist was used, and the progress was 74 % for the FTB journal and 50 % for the publisher (University of Zagreb Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology).
  • Journal editor promoted Diamond Open Access and sustainable journal practices at the 18th EASE Conference in Oslo (panel session) and the 4th Sustainable Publishing Forum in Barcelona (invited lecture and panel session).
  • An EASE E&S webinar „How to acquire and promote SDG content for your journal“ was organised and moderated by the journal editor.


By signing the UN SDG Publishers Compact, Food Technology and Biotechnology is focused on three main sustainable development goals, SDG9, SDG12 and SDG13, among others, listed here.

This policy is regularly reviewed and updated as needed.