Based on a detailed report and policy brief developed by the Ecologic Institute, the workshop provided ideas and inspirations for national policy makers in designing appropriate interventions against consumer food waste. The workshop took place on 19 November 2018 in the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Berlin.

With an estimated contribution of 53%, the consumer is the primary contributor to food waste across the food chain in higher income countries. Considering that a large amount of this waste could be avoided, the urgent need to change consumer behaviour is evident. Reducing consumer food waste and policy interventions to support this effort is therefore a key area of the EU project REFRESH.

Based on desktop research and a REFRESH survey in four countries with 3354 households and their food waste behavior, the policy brief translates the findings on consumer behaviour into policy recommendations.

Key recommendations are:

• Policy interventions that increase the skills of consumers for food management are likely to have an impact. Campaigns though, that exclusively provide information and increase awareness about the negative impacts of food waste do not seem to have an influence.
• Policy makers should implement campaigns that aim to influence social norms. Social norm campaigns are impactful as they exploit the tendency of individuals to conform to what they perceive those around them do.
• Policy makers should consider interventions based on regulation, economic instruments and nudging approaches. 
• Interventions need to be monitored and evaluated to gain insights about the effectiveness and allow for adjustments.
• An integrated approach to food waste reduction/ food policy is needed, e.g. related to health policies, the economic framework, resource efficiency and waste policies

The workshop minutes, agenda and presentation are available for download.

• Erica van Herpen (Wageningen University): Consumer behavior insights from REFRESH
• Stephanie Wunder (Ecologic Institute): Translating REFRESH findings into requirements for effective public campaigns
• Tom Quested, WRAP: Monitoring and evaluating interventions
• Dr. Anke Niederhaus( BMEL; Head of Unit "Sustainable Nutrition, Reduction of Food Waste", German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture): Insights gained from consumer-facing interventions in Germany
• Prof. David Pearson (Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, Australia): Food Waste policies. Reflections from an Australian perspective
• Anne-Laure Gassin (DG Sante, European Commission): Update on EU actions on date marking and food waste prevention