Current European policies and the growing focus on sustainability show a clear need for defining and measuring aspects of sustainability at the food product level. The aim of this study was to develop an indicator-based framework to monitor the sustainability of fruits and vegetables. The framework includes production, packaging, transport, and distribution, and considers economic, ecological, and social aspects. The framework aims to be used by the food production and distribution sector and is intended to use specific data from the value chain for higher relevance for the food industry. Results of a sustainability assessment of carrots are presented, as the first example of application of the framework. Future research should focus on the framework’s validity when applied to other products and other countries.

To increase sustainability in future energy systems, both technical and social measures must be taken. Microgrid communities offer local balancing of supply and demand, while also integrating the community as an active part of the energy system. This study investigates two cases of microgrid communities; how they were realized and what wider effects they offered its communities and other stakeholders. The study shows that the microgrid collaboration between community and utility offers a new organizational division that can overcome the traditional locked-in position of the utility. This brings forward communities as system-active participants and a sustainably beneficial energy system for the future. © 2022 The Author(s)