Urban household food waste: drivers and practices in Toronto, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Belinda Li ◽  
Virginia Maclaren ◽  
Tammara Soma
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Composition Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Waste Composition ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Capita Food ◽  
Per Capita

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand determinants of food waste through analysing patterns of practices including shopping, planning, consumption of leftovers and attitudes around best-before dates.Design/methodology/approachA survey and waste composition analysis of 142 households was conducted in the City of Toronto. Bivariate analyses and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using a structural equation model were used to identify relationships between per capita food waste, household socio-demographic characteristics and household food practices.FindingsConstructs related to planning practices and best-before date practices were identified through the CFA. Household size and the best-before construct were negatively correlated with per capita food waste. The planning construct had no correlation, which may be attributed to the influence of the retail environment in encouraging unplanned purchases. The best-before construct was significantly correlated with the presence of children in the home, an indicator of the compromises that parents make in domestic provisioning to ensure healthy foods for their children, such as more caution in handling items after their best-before dates.Originality/valueThis is the first study of its kind that uses directly measured per capita food waste from a waste composition study in a structural equation model with a construct related to best-before dates to determine drivers of food waste. It is also the first to find that children in the home can have an indirect influence on food waste through the household's best-before practices.

scholarly journals Intention to Purchase Active and Intelligent Packaging to Reduce Household Food Waste: Evidence from Italian Consumers

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4486
Author(s):  
Antonella Cammarelle ◽  
Rosaria Viscecchia ◽  
Francesco Bimbo
Keyword(s):  
Food Waste ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
Intelligent Packaging ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Willingness To Purchase

Innovations in food packaging, such as active and intelligent ones, improve food safety and lower household food waste by extending product shelf life and providing information about food quality, respectively. The consumer adoption of such innovations could contribute to reaching one of the Sustainable Development Goals which calls for halving the per capita global food waste by 2030. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the consumers’ willingness to purchase active and intelligent packaging to reduce household food waste using a sample of 260 Italian consumers and a modified Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model. Using a structural equation model, findings show that respondents are more willing to purchase intelligent packaging rather than active packaging to reduce their wastes at home. Finally, attitudes, perceived behavioral control, awareness, and planning routines are the most important drivers of the intention to reduce household food waste.

scholarly journals Food waste volume and composition in households in Greece

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Waste ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Food Item ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Waste Collection ◽  
Urban Households ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Actual Field ◽  
Capita Food ◽  
Per Capita

<p>The purpose of this paper is the presentation of the results compiled from self weighing of household food waste and self filling of waste collection diaries that took place in Greece. A diary was compiled and given to 101 urban households in various areas of the country. The participants were asked to weigh and write down in the diary every food item wasted in their households for two full weeks (i.e., 14 days). The total per capita food waste generation in Greece is estimated to be 76.1 (±68.3) kg/inh.y. This figure is divided into the avoided food waste fraction which equals to 25.9 (±34.9) kg/inh.y, and the unavoidable fraction which is estimated to be 50.2 (±47.1) kg/inh.y. The use of diaries for recording food that is thrown away from households is a methodology that underestimates the food wasted in households because households tend to be cautious when they know that they have to weigh and report the amount of food that they throw away. The current research is the first of its kind, presenting actual field data for food waste generation by households in Greece.</p>

The impact of subjective norms, eWOM and perceived brand credibility on brand equity: application to the higher education sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-74
Author(s):  
Charitha Harshani Perera ◽  
Rajkishore Nayak ◽  
Long Thang Van Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Brand Equity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Private Higher Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Credibility

PurposeThe growing competitive environment in which higher education institutes are immersed has caused them to strengthen their competitive position of a brand and its equity in emerging countries. However, there are several contradictions between the empirically approved determinants and the dimensions of brand equity in higher education. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the structural relationship between subjective norms, electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), perceived brand credibility and brand equity, taking cross-culturally comparisons between Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachA survey was used to collect data from a sample of 800 undergraduates of private higher education institutions in Sri Lanka and Vietnam in 2019. These data were gathered using purposive sampling and analyzed using a structural equation model. A total of 768 questionnaires were considered valid. In testing the hypothesis and structure among the variables, structural equation modelling was used to determine the relationship between subjective norms, eWOM, perceived brand credibility and brand equity for the higher education institutes in emerging countries.FindingsFor the conceptual framework, the author found that this structural equation model complies with the empirical data. The structural equation model shows that subjective norms, eWOM and perceived brand credibility were significantly related to brand equity. Perceived brand credibility was found to be the mediating variable. Further, the location was found to moderate the relationship between perceived brand credibility and brand equity, highlighting that Vietnamese students are more relying on perceived brand credibility in creating brand equity than their Sri Lankan counterparts.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted at private higher education institutes in Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Future research could benefit from perceptions of undergraduates in public higher education institutes. This study discusses the implications of developing branding strategies for higher education institutions.Originality/valueThe current research contributes to the services marketing and branding literature in the higher education context. The paper presents the crucial elements in building brand equity for higher education institutes to fill the existing gaps in higher education branding literature. The findings of the current study provide strategies to improve the higher education sector.

The mediate effect of learning and knowledge on organizational performance

2007 ◽  
Vol 107 (7) ◽  
pp. 1066-1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin‐Yen Lin ◽  
Tsung‐Hsien Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Management Capability ◽  
Knowledge Management Capability ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper seeks to propose a conceptual structural equation model to investigate the relationships among human resource management (HRM), organizational learning (OL), knowledge management capability (KMC) and organizational performance (OP) and to demonstrate the direct and indirect effect of HRM on OP from the perspectives of KMC and OL.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study is conducted in financial training centers in Taiwan and the collected survey data are used to test the relationships among the four dimensions expressed in the proposed structural equation model.FindingsThe results show that HRM has a direct and significant impact on OL and KMC. HRM influences OP indirectly through OL and KMC. In addition, OL and KMC have direct and significant influences on OP.Research limitations/implicationsOnly data from Taiwan were collected. Therefore, the results may not be easily generalized to other areas or countries, but are useful for managers' reference, especially for those whose circumstances are similar to those in Taiwan.Practical implicationsThe conceptual structural equation model provides useful information for managers to enhance OP through the adoption of appropriate HRM, OL and KMC policies.Originality/valueThe study demonstrates how HRM indirectly impacts OP and illustrates the paths of influence through either OL or KMC.

Household food waste quantification: comparison of two methods

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (7) ◽  
pp. 1504-1515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathilde Delley ◽  
Thomas A. Brunner
Keyword(s):  
Food Waste ◽  
Compositional Analysis ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Household Food ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Comparison Of The Results

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to quantify household food waste by using two different methods. A comparison of the results highlights a divergence between the perceived contribution to the problem and more objective measurements.Design/methodology/approachSelf-reported quantities, collected by means of a postal survey sent out to a random sample of the French- and German-speaking Swiss population, were compared to extrapolations from a national waste compositional analysis report.FindingsThe results of the self-reported survey showed 8.9 kg of avoidable and possibly avoidable household food waste per capita per year, whereas calculations based on the second method resulted in a total of 89.4 kg of mostly avoidable household food waste per capita per year.Research limitations/implicationsThis striking tenfold discrepancy between the two sets of results highlights the extent of under-reporting in self-assessment and speaks in favour of using more objective methods to quantify food waste, building on the example of the second method used in this study.Practical implicationsThe discrepancy highlighted here could be used as a hook in an awareness-raising campaign to highlight everyone’s contribution to the food waste issue and encourage citizens to reconsider their behaviour and adopt recommended behavioural changes.Originality/valueBy highlighting the divergence between self-reported and actual waste management facts and figures, this paper justifies the need to develop measures to encourage citizens to reconsider their attitudes and practices.

Strategic planning key factor in tangible–intangible results in microenterprises

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Armando López-Lemus ◽  
María Teresa De la Garza Carranza ◽  
Quetzalli Atlatenco Ibarra ◽  
José Guadalupe López-Lemus
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
The State ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The objective of this research is to know the degree of influence that strategic planning (SP) exerts on the tangible and intangible results of business microenterprises in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. Design/methodology/approach The methodological design was quantitative, explanatory, observational and cross-sectional, where a sample of 407 young leaders of microenterprises from the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, was obtained. To evaluate hypotheses, a structural equation model (SEM) was developed. Regarding the goodness and adjustment indices of the SEM, they were absolutely acceptable. Findings The results obtained through Pearson’s correlation show that there is a positive and significant relationship between SP and the tangible and intangible results of microenterprises. In addition, through the results obtained with the SEM model, it is statistically demonstrated that SP positively and significantly influences the tangible and intangible results of microenterprises in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. Research limitations/implications In this research, only SP was valued as a variable that intervenes in the process of achieving tangible and intangible results to achieve the business objectives of entrepreneurial microenterprises in the state of Guanajuato. It is essential to point out that other variables that intervene in the process must be considered to generate tangible and intangible results. It is recommended to carry out further research under these variables to identify strategies for improving entrepreneurial microenterprises for their growth, sustainability and rapid positioning in a highly competitive market. Practical implications SP represents one of the tools to achieve the success of microenterprises through tangible and intangible results. However, microenterprises show a need to involve the use and application of SP to define clear indicators that contribute to obtaining satisfactory tangible and intangible results. Originality/value The findings are relevant and of great value, because there is currently not enough research that focuses on the variables analyzed, in this sense, SP and the tangible and intangible results of young entrepreneurial leaders of microenterprises in the Mexican context. The limitations of this study lie in the low participation and interest of young microenterprise entrepreneurs in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico.

Does law as resource bring a competitive advantage to companies?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Teixeira ◽  
João J. Ferreira ◽  
Pedro Mota Veiga
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Sustainable Competitive Advantage ◽  
Business Law ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Law

Purpose Resources and their analysis are essential to understand better companies’ internal and external dynamics and the weight each has in obtaining competitive advantages over the competition. This study aims to address the law and legal knowledge as a fundamental resource for companies to succeed in the markets to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach Based upon a sample of 200 managers, a structural equation model was used to validate the hypotheses under study. Findings Results show awareness and managers’ perception of the importance of law as a resource and its advantages for companies and the dichotomy between recognising this importance and not using it consistently. Originality/value Knowing the scope of business law and its growing importance for companies and being academically aware of the inexistence of studies that analyse the law as an individualised resource for companies, this study has a crucial contribution to the interconnection of these two fields – business and law.

A structural equation model of effective variables on service quality in capital industrial goods sector

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Hamid Reza Ghasemian ◽  
Naser Azad ◽  
Hamid Seyedaliakbar
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Quality Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Service Quality ◽  
Customer Perception

Purpose – The purpose of this research is analyzing the service quality in capital industrial goods sector by developing a model and new view. So the authors studied several models and articles for exploring the effective variables on service quality and tested them in Aras Haitian Machinery Company that is one of the biggest manufacturers of plastic machinery in Iran and China. Design/methodology/approach – The statistics population included all customers of Aras Haitian Company in 2012 that were scattered in whole Iran and all of them are manufacturers of industrial goods. And finally 102 customers chose by using simple random sampling method. The way of SPSS statistical analysis software was used for exploratory factor analysis and LISREL software for structural equation model (SEM). Findings – Results indicated that there were three new factors (customer perception, customer relation and specialized competencies) that affected on perceived service quality of customers in capital industrial goods sector. The findings showed that these three factors were measured by ten subdimensions through a SEM. Originality/value – This study is the first to explore the effective variables on perceived service quality in capital industrial goods sector with viewpoint of service dominant logic in Iran andalso proposed the first SEM under the rubric of industrial service quality model in this section.

Factors influencing the behavior of multi-modal information search

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyi Li ◽  
Jiayu Zhu ◽  
Xiaolin Li
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
System Characteristics

PurposeWith the increasing abundance of network resources and big data, multi-modal information search (MMIS) has been paid more and more attention, but the research results of MMIS are relatively few. This paper attempts to put forward constructive suggestions for the design of multi-modal information system, so that the system can have a better user experience, help users improve the efficiency of obtaining information and optimize the information service mode.Design/methodology/approachA research model of influencing factors is established by using the TAM (technology acceptance model) theory. The influencing factors of users' multi-modal information search behavior (MMISB) are analyzed by using questionnaire, experiment and the structural equation model. On the basis of this, some suggestions are put forward to build the multi-modal search (MMS) system and improve the efficiency of MMIS.FindingsThe research shows that users' MMISB is directly related to their search intention, and the search intention can influence users' cognition of the usefulness and ease of MMIS through their own information search ability and system characteristics. The user's MMIS ability is affected by the demand expression ability and retrieval ability cognition; the user's cognition of system characteristics is affected by the system function and information quality. This shows that the user's MMISB is closely related to the user's cognitive situation, but due to the author's limited time and research ability, only the questionnaire survey method cannot be used to in-depth research and explore the influencing factors of MMIS. Therefore, in the future research, we should combine the interview method to further track the user's emotional factors and scene factors.Originality/valueFor the first time, TAM theory is combined with cross-modal retrieval behavior and the paper explores the influencing factors and evaluation indexes of users' MMISB. The second, the questionnaire was compiled to investigate the influencing factors of the MMISB of the university group, and the reliability analysis, validity analysis, correlation analysis and structural equation model analysis of the survey data are carried out . The survey data and analysis results are original, which can provide a theoretical basis for improving the service level of MMIS.

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