Understanding the Attitudinal and Behavioural Determinants of Household Food Waste in Australia

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dc.contributor.authorNguyen, Thi Thu Trang
dc.contributor.schoolSchool of Economics and Public Policy : The Centre for Global Food and Resourcesen
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractGlobally, households are responsible for a large proportion of food waste in lower-middle-income to high-income countries. The amount of food waste generated and sent to landfill is unsustainable, resulting in negative economic, social and environmental impacts. Changing households’ practices related to the generation and disposal of food waste can contribute to reducing the impact of food waste. However, food waste behaviour of households is complex and is not comprehensively understood. Three key aspects that require greater investigation and understanding, are: food waste disposal behaviour; the multiple food management practices and motivations driving the generation of food waste; and the heterogeneity in food waste generation and disposal behaviours between households. These three knowledge gaps form the basis of this thesis and are addressed in Chapters 3, 4, and 5. A mixed-methods approach was used in this research project. This included focus group discussions which informed the design of an online survey of 1030 participants in metropolitan Adelaide. Adelaide was chosen as all households had access to at least one sustainable food waste disposal option, the food organics kerbside collection. Data from the online survey is used in all three analytical chapters. Chapter 3 investigated the drivers of food waste disposal practices in households. The chapter examines six common household food waste disposal practices, which are categorised as sustainable or unsustainable. A Fractional Multinomial Logit analysis was undertaken with the variables of interest. Findings showed that more than half of food waste was disposed of in the general waste bin, despite access to sustainable options. The presence of a kitchen caddy was found to increase sustainable food waste disposal behaviours, underscoring the potential impact of simple interventions on promoting sustainable habits. Chapter 4 explored multiple motivations from the Goal-Framing Theory (i.e. gain, hedonic, normative, and competing goals) underpinning preventative food waste behaviours, and the generation of avoidable food waste. Structural Equation Modelling of the survey data found the influences of normative goals in food waste reduction, even for behaviours occurring outside of the public eye, suggesting an ingrained ethical perspective towards food waste among participants. Other motivations (i.e. gain and hedonic goals) were also explored, painting a comprehensive picture of the motivators and deterrents of sustainable food management practices. Chapter 5 adopted a segmentation approach to explore heterogeneity in food waste behaviours of households. A TwoStep Cluster Analysis segmented the survey sample based on food waste generation and sorting behaviours. Three distinct segments were identified: 'Warriors', 'Strugglers', and 'Slackers'. Each segment displayed unique characteristics and motivations, from the 'Warriors' with their low waste generation and robust sustainable practices, to 'Slackers' who, despite generating low waste, seldom engaged in sustainable sorting. The segments were profiled to pinpoint specific motivations guiding each group's behaviour. In conclusion, this thesis underscores the complexity and multifaceted nature of household food waste behaviours. By illuminating the various behaviours, practices, and motivations at play, it provides a robust foundation for the development of targeted interventions, ensuring more effective, scalable, and sustainable strategies to combat household food waste.en
dc.description.dissertationThesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Economics and Public Policy, 2023en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/140186
dc.language.isoenen
dc.provenanceThis electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legalsen
dc.subjectFood waste reductionen
dc.subjectpreventative behaviouren
dc.subjectdisposal behaviouren
dc.subjectsustainable behaviouren
dc.subjectFOGOen
dc.subjectgoal-framing theoryen
dc.subjectmotivationsen
dc.subjectconsumer behaviouren
dc.subjectavoidable food wasteen
dc.titleUnderstanding the Attitudinal and Behavioural Determinants of Household Food Waste in Australiaen
dc.typeThesisen

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