IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i4p1110-d207633.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Motivations and Actions to Prevent Food Waste among Young Italian Consumers

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Bravi

    (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 42, 61029 Urbino, Italy)

  • Federica Murmura

    (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 42, 61029 Urbino, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Savelli

    (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 42, 61029 Urbino, Italy)

  • Elena Viganò

    (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 42, 61029 Urbino, Italy)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Bravi & Federica Murmura & Elisabetta Savelli & Elena Viganò, 2019. "Motivations and Actions to Prevent Food Waste among Young Italian Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:4:p:1110-:d:207633
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/4/1110/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/4/1110/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosa Maria Fanelli & Angela Di Nocera, 2017. "How to implement new educational campaigns against food waste: An analysis of best practices in European Countries," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 19(2), pages 223-244.
    2. Buzby, Jean C. & Hyman, Jeffrey, 2012. "Total and per capita value of food loss in the United States," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 561-570.
    3. Mary Griffin & Jeffery Sobal & Thomas Lyson, 2009. "An analysis of a community food waste stream," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 26(1), pages 67-81, March.
    4. Giacomo Blasi & Angelo Caruso & Elena Vigan?, 2016. "Progettazione partecipata di una mensa scolastica sostenibile mediante lo sviluppo di un Business Model Canvas," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 18(3), pages 319-344.
    5. Glenn Hoetker, 2007. "The use of logit and probit models in strategic management research: Critical issues," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 331-343, April.
    6. Elena Vigan? & Angela Mariani & Chiara Taglioni & Biancamaria Torquati, 2012. "Consumatori e canali alternativi per il biologico: il caso del Gruppo Organizzato di Domanda e Offerta di aiab-Umbria," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 14(1), pages 173-194.
    7. Lorenzo Compagnucci & Alessio Cavicchi & Francesca Spigarelli & Lorenza Natali, 2018. "A multi-stakeholder attempt to address food waste: The case of Wellfood Action EU project," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 20(3), pages 503-528.
    8. Marcello Di Muro & Rungsaran Wongprawmas & Maurizio Canavari, 2016. "Consumers? Preferences and Willingness-To-Pay for Misfit Vegetables," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 18(2), pages 133-154.
    9. R. Jennrich & P. Sampson, 1966. "Rotation for simple loadings," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 31(3), pages 313-323, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lucie K. Ozanne & Paul W. Ballantine & Aimee McMaster, 2022. "Understanding Food Waste Produced by University Students: A Social Practice Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Mauro Viccaro & Adele Coppola & Maria Consiglia D’Angelo & Francesco Genovese & Severino Romano & Mario Cozzi, 2023. "Young People Are Not All the Same! The Theory of Planned Behaviour Applied to Food Waste Behaviour across Young Italian Generations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Azzurra Annunziata & Francisco Luis Muca & Angela Mariani, 2022. "Preventing Household Food Waste in Italy: A Segmentation of the Population and Suggestions for Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Saman Attiq & Ka Yin Chau & Shahid Bashir & Muhammad Danish Habib & Rauf I. Azam & Wing-Keung Wong, 2021. "Sustainability of Household Food Waste Reduction: A Fresh Insight on Youth’s Emotional and Cognitive Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-23, June.
    5. Małgorzata Miśniakiewicz & Vera Amicarelli & Grzegorz Chrobak & Agnieszka Górka-Chowaniec & Christian Bux, 2024. "Do Living Arrangements and Eating Habits Influence University Students’ Food Waste Perception in Italy and Poland?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-21, March.
    6. Roberto Ruggieri & Giuliana Vinci & Marco Ruggeri & Henry Sardaryan, 2020. "Food losses and food waste: The Industry 4.0 opportunity for the sustainability challenge," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(1), pages 159-177.
    7. Robert Nicewicz & Beata Bilska, 2022. "The Impact of the Nutritional Knowledge of Polish Students Living Outside the Family Home on Consumer Behavior and Food Waste," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-17, October.
    8. Sanjeev Yadav & Sunil Luthra & Dixit Garg, 2022. "Internet of things (IoT) based coordination system in Agri-food supply chain: development of an efficient framework using DEMATEL-ISM," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 1-27, June.
    9. Rogério João Lunkes & Fabricia Silva da Rosa & Pamela Lattanzi, 2020. "The Effect of the Perceived Utility of a Management Control System with a Broad Scope on the Use of Food Waste Information and on Financial and Non-Financial Performances in Restaurants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-14, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lorenzo Compagnucci & Alessio Cavicchi & Francesca Spigarelli & Lorenza Natali, 2018. "A multi-stakeholder attempt to address food waste: The case of Wellfood Action EU project," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 20(3), pages 503-528.
    2. Johnson, Lisa K. & Dunning, Rebecca D. & Gunter, Chris C. & Dara Bloom, J. & Boyette, Michael D. & Creamer, Nancy G., 2018. "Field measurement in vegetable crops indicates need for reevaluation of on-farm food loss estimates in North America," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 136-142.
    3. Alberto Sturla & Elena Vigan? & Laura Vigan?, 2019. "The Organic Districts in Italy. An Interpretative Hypothesis in the Light of the Common Pool Resources Theory," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 21(2), pages 429-458.
    4. Roberto Ruggieri & Giuliana Vinci & Marco Ruggeri & Henry Sardaryan, 2020. "Food losses and food waste: The Industry 4.0 opportunity for the sustainability challenge," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(1), pages 159-177.
    5. Ali Chalak & Chaza Abou-Daher & Mohamad G. Abiad, 2018. "Generation of food waste in the hospitality and food retail and wholesale sectors: lessons from developed economies," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(5), pages 1279-1290, October.
    6. Garrone, Paola & Melacini, Marco & Perego, Alessandro, 2014. "Opening the black box of food waste reduction," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 129-139.
    7. Nino Adamashvili & Filomena Chiara & Mariantonietta Fiore, 2019. "Food Loss and Waste, a global responsibility?!," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 21(3), pages 825-846.
    8. Richards, Timothy J. & Hamilton, Stephen F., 2018. "Food waste in the sharing economy," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 109-123.
    9. Angela Genova & Martina Maccaroni & Elena Viganò, 2020. "Social Farming: Heterogeneity in Social and Agricultural Relationships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    10. Herath, Deepananda & Felfel, Abdel, 2016. "Determinants of consumer food waste behaviour: Homo Economicus vs. Homo Moralis," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 236260, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    11. Massimiliano Cerciello & Massimiliano Agovino & Antonio Garofalo, 2019. "Estimating urban food waste at the local level: are good practices in food consumption persistent?," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 36(3), pages 863-886, October.
    12. Min, Shi & Wang, Xiaobing & Yu, Xiaohua, 2021. "Does dietary knowledge affect household food waste in the developing economy of China?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    13. Beata Bilska & Marzena Tomaszewska & Danuta Kołożyn-Krajewska, 2019. "Analysis of the Behaviors of Polish Consumers in Relation to Food Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    14. Lea Kubíčková & Lucie Veselá & Marcela Kormaňáková, 2021. "Food Waste Behaviour at the Consumer Level: Pilot Study on Czech Private Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-24, October.
    15. Belén Derqui & Teresa Fayos & Vicenc Fernandez, 2016. "Towards a More Sustainable Food Supply Chain: Opening up Invisible Waste in Food Service," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-20, July.
    16. Cicatiello, Clara & Franco, Silvio & Pancino, Barbara & Blasi, Emanuele, 2016. "The value of food waste: An exploratory study on retailing," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 96-104.
    17. Lovejoy, Kristin, 2012. "Mobility Fulfillment Among Low-car Households: Implications for Reducing Auto Dependence in the United States," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt4v44b5qn, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    18. Jarle Aarstad & Olav Andreas Kvitastein & Stig-Erik Jakobsen, 2019. "What Drives Enterprise Product Innovation? Assessing How Regional, National, And International Inter-Firm Collaboration Complement Or Substitute For R&D Investments," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(05), pages 1-25, June.
    19. Wang, Binni & Wang, Pong & Tu, Yiliu, 2021. "Customer satisfaction service match and service quality-based blockchain cloud manufacturing," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    20. Shirzad, Mohammad & Kazemi Shariat Panahi, Hamed & Dashti, Behrouz B. & Rajaeifar, Mohammad Ali & Aghbashlo, Mortaza & Tabatabaei, Meisam, 2019. "A comprehensive review on electricity generation and GHG emission reduction potentials through anaerobic digestion of agricultural and livestock/slaughterhouse wastes in Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 571-594.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:4:p:1110-:d:207633. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.