Eat or Throw Away? Factors Differentiating High Food Wasters from Low Food Wasters

Ovidija Eičaitė, Gitana Alenčikienė, Ingrida Pauliukaitytė and Alvija Šalaševičienė
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Ovidija Eičaitė: Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Economics and Rural Development, A. Vivulskio Str. 4A-13, LT 03220 Vilnius, Lithuania
Gitana Alenčikienė: Food Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų Str. 19C, LT 50254 Kaunas, Lithuania
Ingrida Pauliukaitytė: Food Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų Str. 19C, LT 50254 Kaunas, Lithuania
Alvija Šalaševičienė: Food Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų Str. 19C, LT 50254 Kaunas, Lithuania

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: More than half of food waste is generated at the household level, and therefore, it is important to tackle and attempt to solve the problem of consumer food waste. This study aimed to identify factors differentiating high food wasters from low food wasters. A large-scale survey was conducted in Lithuania. A total of 1001 respondents had participated in this survey and were selected using a multi-stage probability sample. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Binary logistic regression modelling was used to analyse the effect of socio-demographics, food-related behaviours, attitudes towards food waste, and knowledge of date labelling on levels of food waste. Impulse buying, inappropriate food preparation practices, non-consumption of leftovers, lack of concern about food waste, and worry about food poisoning were related to higher food waste. On the other hand, correct planning practices and knowledge of date labelling were related to lower food waste. The findings of this study have practical implications for designing interventions aimed at reducing consumer food waste.

Keywords: food waste; households; food-related behaviours; attitudes towards food waste; knowledge of expiry dates; socio-demographics (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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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10741-:d:644561

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