Consumer and Food Product Determinants of Food Wasting: A Case Study on Chicken Meat

Margot Cooreman-Algoed, Fien Minnens, Lieselot Boone, Kyara Botterman, Sue Ellen Taelman, Wim Verbeke, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Yung Hung and Jo Dewulf
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Margot Cooreman-Algoed: Research Group Sustainable Systems Engineering (STEN), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Fien Minnens: Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Lieselot Boone: Research Group Sustainable Systems Engineering (STEN), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Kyara Botterman: Research Group Sustainable Systems Engineering (STEN), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Sue Ellen Taelman: Research Group Sustainable Systems Engineering (STEN), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Brecht Devleesschauwer: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Research Institute Sciensano, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
Yung Hung: Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Jo Dewulf: Research Group Sustainable Systems Engineering (STEN), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-18

Abstract: Food wastage is an environmental concern worldwide, particularly regarding households. This study aims to identify household food wasting segments and to assess the relationship between both consumer and food product determinants and the identified segments. Data were collected through a consumer survey of several packaged chicken products ( n = 256; 2019) in a retail setting in Belgium. Of the participants, 36% reported never wasting any chicken meat. The average waste percentages were small, 1.1–3.1%, depending on the packaged product, although they were not significantly different between products. Participants with low levels of self-reported chicken waste were significantly older, without children and/or unemployed. Moreover, their households scored better for household routines and skills. They also agreed more to intend not to waste food, experienced a stronger injunctive norm and perceived consumer effectiveness. Additionally, lower chicken product wastage was discovered for households purchasing organic products and products with both a lower food convenience grade and shorter shelf life. Some relationships between household wastage and food product determinants contrast with expectations based on literature. The cause can be that some determinants are more related to food wasting (e.g., when participants buy organic products) than others (e.g., the products’ shelf life).

Keywords: food waste; consumer behaviour; chicken meat; packaging; poultry; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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