Pan-European research for quantified consumer food waste understanding

This report presents insights about in-home food waste, including: the amounts wasted, household’s food prevention practices, and the influence of motivation, abilities, and opportunities on household food waste. It is based on a large-scale consumer survey in Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Spain. 

Results show that, in line with the presented model, food waste prevention household practices (planning of food shopping and use, less impulsive buying, overview of food in stock, cooking precisely, and using leftovers) influence the amount of food waste. Additionally, attitudes towards wasting and beliefs that other do not waste, lead to lower household food waste. Skills and knowledge matter as well: consumers with good food planning, preparation and storage skills waste less. Finally, consumers who have fewer unforeseen events in their meal schedule, and who perceive that stores have food in the preferred quantity and quality, also waste less. These results lead to concrete policy implications.

The report's scope is pan-European, with data collected in Germany, Hungary, Spain and the Netherlands. The results improve our understanding of what determines in-home household food waste, and provide insights into potential targets for food waste reduction and intervention strategies.
 
An accompanying document provides background information on the recruitment and sampling strategy that was used.
 

Citation: 

Van Geffen, L.E.J., van Herpen, E., van Trijp, H., 2017: Quantified consumer insights on food waste: Pan-European research for quantified consumer food waste understanding. REFRESH Deliverable 1.4

Language: 

  • English

Publishing date: 

31/12/2017

Language: 

Citation: 

Van Geffen, L.E.J., van Herpen, E., van Trijp, H., 2017: Quantified consumer insights on food waste: Pan-European research for quantified consumer food waste understanding. REFRESH Deliverable 1.4

Deliverable: 

D1.4