Exploring the Drivers behind Self-Reported and Measured Food Wastage

Efrat Elimelech, Eyal Ert () and Ofira Ayalon
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Efrat Elimelech: Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Ofira Ayalon: Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Understanding households’ food waste drivers is crucial for forming a coherent policy to meet the sustainable development goals. However, current studies have documented mixed evidence regarding food waste determinants. Most studies have relied on self-reports, assuming they reflect actual behaviors. This study applies a structural equation model that evaluates both self-reported and measured food wastage, and how they are affected by different households’ attributes, attitudes, and behaviors. As such, it also provides a test for the underlying logic that self-reports are a proxy for actual food waste. Results show that measured food wastage is, at best, weakly correlated with self-reports. Moreover, drivers affecting self-reported and measured food wastage are not necessarily the same. Household size affects only measured food wastage. Source separation behavior negatively affects self-reported and measured food wastage, while environmental attitudes have a negative effect only on self-reports. Meal planning, unplanned shopping, and food purchased have no impact on self-reported and measured food wastage. The relation between self-reported and actual food waste and their drivers are even less understood than we thought. The distinction between self-reports and actual waste is crucial for follow-up research on this subject as well as assessing policy measures.

Keywords: drivers of food waste; household food waste; avoidable food waste; measured food wastage; self-reports; Sustainable development goals; structural equation model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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