Food Waste and Environmental Sustainability of the Hotel Industry in Taiwan

Hsu-Hua Lee and Pao-Yuan Huang ()
Additional contact information
Hsu-Hua Lee: Department of Management Sciences, Tamkang University, No.151, Yingzhuan Rd., Tamsui Dist., New Taipei City 251301, Taiwan
Pao-Yuan Huang: Department of Management Sciences, Tamkang University, No.151, Yingzhuan Rd., Tamsui Dist., New Taipei City 251301, Taiwan

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: There is an alarming surge in food wastage stemming from culinary practices and intricate cuisines despite technological advancements. The reduction in food wastage is a pivotal sustainable development goal, yet statistics indicate high levels of wastage. Scholars have investigated food waste extensively with a focus on the hospitality sector, which accounts for nearly 12% of total waste. Factors contributing to food waste have been examined, yet findings tend to be isolated and lack a holistic approach. Existing research leans heavily toward developed countries despite the issue being more pronounced in developing economies. Investigations into hotel-related food wastage in Taiwan remain scarce. Effective waste management can curtail expenditures and enhance brand reputation and underscore a commitment to environmental sustainability for hoteliers and culinary managers. This study offers actionable insights to guide sustainable development. The current research employs qualitative interviews and structured questionnaires with culinary experts and hotel management to decode intricacies of food wastage across procurement, inventory, and preparation in Taiwanese hotels. Utilizing the Analytic Network Process methodology, the research provides insights to guide hoteliers in achieving sustainable development goals.

Keywords: food waste; hotel; buffet; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/21/15459/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/21/15459/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:21:p:15459-:d:1270985

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().