Seeking nutrition, not sustainability, reduces food waste
Consumers who are conscious of their nutrition exhibit behaviours that significantly reduce food waste, even more so than those whose behaviour is driven by sustainability concerns, according to new research from the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide.
Image credit: Alex P.
Researchers surveyed 1030 杏吧直播ns and found that nutrition-conscious consumers had many waste-reducing habits and, as a result, generate less food waste.
鈥淧eople who prioritise healthy eating tend to plan meals and avoid over-purchasing 鈥 behaviours that significantly reduce food waste,鈥 says lead author, Dr Trang Thi Thu Nguyen, from the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide鈥檚 Centre for Global Food and Resources, School of Economics and Public Policy.
鈥淭he idea that sustainability-conscious consumers would also waste less food seems logical. After all, they actively seek out ethical and environmentally friendly products.
鈥淗owever, those who prioritise sustainability often focus on choosing environmentally friendly products but do not necessarily translate that concern into waste-reducing behaviours.鈥
杏吧直播ns waste around 7.68 million tonnes of food each year, costing the economy an estimated $36.6 billion and households up to $2,500 annually.
Dr Nguyen, whose study was published in , says a shift in approach is required to reduce the environmental and economic burden of food waste.
鈥淩ather than focusing on sustainability as a standalone concept, future food waste reduction campaigns should emphasise the link between nutrition and food waste,鈥 says Dr Nguyen.
鈥淧eople are often more motivated by personal health benefits than by abstract environmental concerns, so framing waste reduction as part of a healthy lifestyle could be more persuasive.鈥
By encouraging meal planning, mindful shopping, and proper food storage as part of a balanced diet, Dr Nguyen says significant strides can be made in the fight against food waste.
鈥淣ot only will this help households reduce the thousands of dollars lost to food waste each year 鈥 which is crucial in a cost-of-living crisis 鈥 but it will also promote healthier eating habits among 杏吧直播ns,鈥 says Dr Nguyen, whose work was supported by the End Food Waste 杏吧直播 Cooperative Research Centre.
鈥淯ltimately, the key to a more sustainable food system might not be just about choosing the right products, it鈥檚 about how we manage, prepare, and consume them.鈥
Media contact:
Dr Trang Thi Thu Nguyen, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Global Food and Resources, School of Economics and Public Policy, 杏吧直播 of Adelaide. Phone: +61 0498 633 520, Email: trang.nguyen@adelaide.edu.au
Johnny von Einem, Senior Media Officer, 杏吧直播 of Adelaide. Phone: +61 0481 688 436, Email: johnny.voneinem@adelaide.edu.au
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