Motivations and Actions to Prevent Food Waste among Young Italian Consumers

Food waste is a relevant global problem due to its consequences on food security, economy, and environmental sustainability. This study focuses, in detail, on finding the main motivation for food waste among the young and the principal actions to prevent it. The paper focuses on Italian reality, since Western countries are partly accountable for wasting large amounts of food. What is more, the focus has been shifted specifically on to the youths and young adults, as they are the portion of the population that are most inclined to waste food. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey performed on a sample of n = 904 Italian consumers. In line with previous research, the results of this study confirm that avoidable food waste comes from three main behavioural antecedents: over preparation, excessive purchase, and inappropriate conservation. The research shows that food waste cannot be reduced by just one-way from the consumers; rather, it goes both ways, between consumers and retailers. Therefore, only holding the consumers accountable and expecting them to solve it will not solve the problem of food waste; marketing and retailers should also consider ethics when it comes to food distribution.

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Alternative food distribution networks, resilience, and urban food security in Turkey amid the Covid-19 pandemic

Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development ◽

10.5304/jafscd.2021.102.021 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Nurcan Atalan-Helicke ◽

Bürge Abiral

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Distribution Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Distribution Networks ◽

Food Distribution ◽

Alternative Food ◽

Alternative Food Networks ◽

Global Food

This article explores the potential of alternative food networks (AFNs) for food security and resilience as COVID-19 has raised challenges to the global food supply chain. Pandemic-induced disruptions to conventional food production, distribution, and consumption networks have revealed problems with the global food system and have drawn attention to the re-localization and regionalization of food systems. Lockdown and mobility restrictions have also disrupted the availability, quality, and stability of food. We evaluate how AFNs have responded to these challenges in a non-western context through a case-study approach informed by participant observation and semistructured interviews. After examining the multiple factors that have been critical to the emergence and expansion of AFNs in Turkey since the mid-2000s, we argue that these food distribution networks have aimed to address food security, environmental sustainability, and farmer livelihoods in complementary ways. We provide a timeline of state-led measures in response to COVID-19 in Turkey as we consider their impacts on food distribution systems and access in urban areas. We then compare two AFNs: a food community working within a participatory guarantee system, and a consumer cooperative that connects producers and consumers in urban areas. Although the two AFNs faced initial challenges due to disruptions in delivery services and lockdowns, they have been able to continue their services and address increasing demand. They also provided special solidarity packages for those adversely affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. By building on the existing networks and relationships of trust between consumers and producers, and the capacity and willingness of producers to adapt to the new regulatory environment, the two AFNs have been able to continue their activities and start new initiatives.

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How Responsible Are Consumers?

10.4018/978-1-7998-9664-7.ch012 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 219-230

Author(s):

Namita Kapoor

Keyword(s):

Social Issue ◽

Food Security ◽

Environmental Economic ◽

Food Waste ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Household Level ◽

Important Concern ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Growing Population

One of the most important concern the economies are facing is food security amidst the growing population. The population growth has exerted tremendous pressure on food security and has raised concerns over food sustainability. The sustainability of food waste is an environmental, economic, and social issue, which has useful policy implications. The issue has been studied through the analysis of responsible consumption and food waste. The literature has emphasised improving the efficiency in supply chain to reduce food waste, but researches on food waste at the consumer level are still in the natal stage. It is important to understand to develop the framework for responsible consumption and to assess the factors that may contribute to reduction in food waste at the household level. The study aims to examine the scope of responsible consumption to attain environmental sustainability.

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Küresel Bir Sorun "Gıda Atıkları": Otel İşletmelerindeki Boyutları (A Global Problem "Food Waste": Food Waste Generators in Hotel Industry)

Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies ◽

10.21325/jotags.2018.347 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 1039-1061 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Songül Kılınç Şahin ◽

Aydan Bekar

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Hotel Industry ◽

Global Problem ◽

Waste Food

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Understanding the Tradition of Male Calf Release in Tambakan Village of Bali Island, Indonesia from the Perspective of History, Religion, Environment Sustainability and Food Security

Journal of Marine and Island Cultures ◽

10.21463/jmic.2020.09.2.14 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Luh Putu Puspawati ◽

I Made Swastika ◽

Tjokorda Udiana Nindhia Pemayun ◽

Tjokorda Gde Tirta Nindhia

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

The People ◽

Environment Sustainability ◽

The Village

Historically the tradition of male calf release in Tambakan Villlage was initiated from the vow of the defeated soldier of the kingdom of Buleleng over the kingdom of Bangli in the Island of Bali in the region of present day Indonesia. The defeated soldiers of Buleleng were hiding in the forest around the presentday village of Tambakan, Buleleng, Bali. All the soldiers vowed to the Deity dwelling in the forest to hand over a male calf if they survived the pursuit of the enemy. In the end, the enemy could not find them and the soldiers remained in the forest and continued their lives there. The village was named as Tambakan, meaning a buffer of enemy attack. The village was surrounded by a fence made from bamboo during that time. The soldiers then paid their vows by releasing male calves into the forest. This historical incident then developed to become a belief of the local peoples that if they vow to release a male calf to the Deity, then their wish will be fulfilled. Indeed many wishes of the people did come true when they released a male calf to the forest. Consequently, the population of the bulls increased in the forest, and by the influence of the Hindu Tantra sect, about 23 bulls from the forest are taken out every 2 years to be sacrificed in the temples addressed to Goddess of Durga. The meat of the sacrificed bulls is then distributed to the members of the village to be consumed. The releases of male calves gives benefit to environmental sustainability and the distribution of the meat after sacrificing guarantees food security for the people.

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Enhancing food security and environmental sustainability: A critical review of food loss and waste management

Resources, Environment and Sustainability ◽

10.1016/j.resenv.2021.100023 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100023

Author(s):

Yumei Wang ◽

Zengwei Yuan

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Waste Management ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Critical Review ◽

Food Loss

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Food Waste in Da Nang City of Vietnam: Trends, Challenges, and Perspectives toward Sustainable Resource Use

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13137368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 7368

Author(s):

Ngoc-Bao Pham ◽

Thu-Nga Do ◽

Van-Quang Tran ◽

Anh-Duc Trinh ◽

Chen Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Modern Society ◽

Critical Issue ◽

Typical Feature ◽

City Government ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Waste Generation ◽

Pig Feed

Food waste has become a critical issue in modern society, especially in the urbanized and fast-growing cities of Asia. The increase in food waste has serious negative impacts on environmental sustainability, water and land resources, and food security, as well as climate and greenhouse gas emissions. Through a specific case study in Da Nang City, Vietnam, this paper examines the extent of food waste generation at the consumption stages, the eating habits of consumers, food waste from households and service establishments, as well as prospects for the reuse of food waste as pig feed. The results of this study indicate that per capita food waste generation in Da Nang has increased from 0.39 to 0.41kg in 2016, 0.46 in 2017, and reached 0.52kg in 2018. According to the results of our consumer survey, 20% of respondents stated that they often generate food waste, 67% stated they sometimes do, and 13% stated they rarely do. Furthermore, 66% of surveyed households stated that their food waste is collected and transported by pig farmers to be used as feed for pigs. The use of food waste as feed for pigs is a typical feature in Da Nang. The study also found that there is a high level of consumer awareness and willingness to participate in the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) program, which was being initiated by the city government. In service facilities such as resorts and hotels, daily food waste reached 100–200 kg in large facilities and 20–120 kg in small facilities. This waste was also collected for use in pig farming. However, there has been a fall in demand for pig feed in line with a decrease in the number of pig farms due to the African swine fever epidemic that occurred during the implementation of this study. This paper suggests that there is a strong need to take both consumer-oriented waste prevention and waste management measures, such as waste segregation at source and introduction of effective food waste recycling techniques, to ensure that food waste can be safely and sustainably used as a “valuable resource” rather than “wasted.”

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