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Identifying motivations and barriers to minimising household food waste

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  • Graham-Rowe, Ella
  • Jessop, Donna C.
  • Sparks, Paul

Abstract

The amount of food discarded by UK households is substantial and, to a large extent, avoidable. Furthermore, such food waste has serious environmental consequences. If household food waste reduction initiatives are to be successful they will need to be informed by people's motivations and barriers to minimising household food waste. This paper reports a qualitative study of the thoughts, feelings and experiences of 15 UK household food purchasers, based on semi-structured interviews. Two core categories of motives to minimise household food waste were identified: (1) waste concerns and (2) doing the ‘right’ thing. A third core category illustrated the importance of food management skills in empowering people to keep household food waste to a minimum. Four core categories of barriers to minimising food waste were also identified: (1) a ‘good’ provider identity; (2) minimising inconvenience; (3) lack of priority; and (4) exemption from responsibility. The wish to avoid experiencing negative emotions (such as guilt, frustration, annoyance, embarrassment or regret) underpinned both the motivations and the barriers to minimising food waste. Findings thus reveal potentially conflicting personal goals which may hinder existing food waste reduction attempts.

Suggested Citation

  • Graham-Rowe, Ella & Jessop, Donna C. & Sparks, Paul, 2014. "Identifying motivations and barriers to minimising household food waste," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 15-23.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:84:y:2014:i:c:p:15-23
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2013.12.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Quested, T.E. & Marsh, E. & Stunell, D. & Parry, A.D., 2013. "Spaghetti soup: The complex world of food waste behaviours," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 43-51.
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    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. Turrentine, Tom & Kurani, Kenneth S, 2007. "Car buyers and fuel economy?," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt56x845v4, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
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