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Food-away-from-home plate waste in China: Preference for variety and quantity

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  • Xu, Zhigang
  • Zhang, Zongli
  • Liu, Haiyan
  • Zhong, Funing
  • Bai, Junfei
  • Cheng, Shengkui

Abstract

China is observing a rapid increase of food-away-from-home (FAFH) plate waste along with economic growth. Food waste reduces food use efficiency, exerts pressure on environment and resources, and threatens national food security. This study analyzes the impact of consumers’ preference for variety and restaurants’ dish portions on FAFH plate waste using a survey data from 170 restaurants in Beijing and Lhasa. The primary findings are that higher food variety leads to less plate waste and bigger portion size results in more plate waste. We also observe that increases in consumers’ income lead to more plate waste. Moreover, the Chinese Face-culture plays a significant role on consumers’ plate waste. Serving dishes with suitable portions in restaurants should be incentivized to help reduce both the amount and rate of plate waste. Our results can suggest relevant policy tools to nudge people in forming sustainable consumption behavior and provide valuable implications for reducing food waste and improving food security in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Zhigang & Zhang, Zongli & Liu, Haiyan & Zhong, Funing & Bai, Junfei & Cheng, Shengkui, 2020. "Food-away-from-home plate waste in China: Preference for variety and quantity," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:97:y:2020:i:c:s0306919220301226
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101918
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Panpan Zhang & Shaopeng Fu & Xiaojie Liu, 2022. "The Effect of Plate and Decoration Color on Consumer Food Waste in Restaurants: A Case of Four Chinese Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Ortega, David L. & Sun, Jiayu & Lin, Wen, 2022. "Identity labels as an instrument to reduce meat demand and encourage consumption of plant based and cultured meat alternatives in China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
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    5. Gao, Yuan & Lopez, Rigoberto A. & Liao, Ruili & Liu, Xiaoou, 2024. "Salience and food waste reduction: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    6. Na Hao & Yi Zhang & Huashu Wang & H. Holly Wang, 2022. "Which Consumer Perceptions Should Be Used in Food Waste Reduction Campaigns: Food Security, Food Safety or Environmental Concerns?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-11, February.
    7. Jing Li & Wei Li & Lei Wang & Baihui Jin, 2021. "Environmental and Cost Impacts of Food Waste in University Canteen from a Life Cycle Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-16, September.
    8. Qingming Cui & Guanzhu Lin & Shuhua Qiu & Tao Duan, 2023. "Identifying the Drivers of Food Waste in University Canteens in China: A Qualitative Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, September.
    9. Han, Jixuan & Li, Tianshu & Philbin, Simon P., 2023. "Does low-carbon pilot policy in China improve corporate profitability? The role of innovation and subsidy," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 2(2).
    10. Long Qian & Feng Li & Xia Zhao & Hongbo Liu & Xiaojie Liu, 2022. "The Association between Religious Beliefs and Food Waste: Evidence from Chinese Rural Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-15, July.
    11. Guohui Shen & Ziqi Li & Tiannuo Hong & Xin Ru & Kunzhen Wang & Yanting Gu & Juan Han & Yanzhi Guo, 2024. "The status of the global food waste mitigation policies: experience and inspiration for China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 8329-8357, April.
    12. Chai, Duo & Yu, Shujin & Meng, Ting, 2024. "Do moral constraints and government interventions promote the willingness and behaviors of food saving among urban residents in China? An empirical study based on structural equation model," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
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    14. Y. Feng & C. Marek & J. Tosun, 2022. "Fighting Food Waste by Law: Making Sense of the Chinese Approach," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 457-479, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Plate waste; Preference for variety; Portion size; Food-away-from-home;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis

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