IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i20p11451-d658069.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Investigating the Determinants of Greek Households Food Waste Prevention Behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Theodora Kritikou

    (Department of Geography, School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Harokopio University of Athens, 70 El. Venizelou, 17671 Athens, Greece)

  • Dimosthenis Panagiotakos

    (Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University of Athens, 70 El. Venizelou, 17671 Athens, Greece)

  • Konstantinos Abeliotis

    (Department of Economics and Sustainable Development, School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Harokopio University of Athens, 70 El. Venizelou, 17671 Athens, Greece)

  • Katia Lasaridi

    (Department of Geography, School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Harokopio University of Athens, 70 El. Venizelou, 17671 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

Food waste prevention is globally an urgent policy priority. Multiple studies have demonstrated that in the developed world, households are the main producers of food waste along the food supply chain, being responsible for about half of the edible food wasted. This study aims to analyse consumers’ food waste behaviour and identify the factors that influence food waste generation in Greek households. A survey of 921 Greek households was conducted using a structured questionnaire based on the explanatory framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, which is currently the most widely used cognitive model in environmental psychology. The study investigated the validity of relations between the main model parameters (attitude towards food waste, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intention, and self-reported behaviour), in addition to knowledge regarding food waste prevention, general environmental knowledge, planning and shopping habits and demographic characteristics. Results demonstrated that food waste prevention Intention and food provisioning habits are direct determinants of food waste generation Behaviour. Intention was predominantly determined by General Environmental Attitude, followed by Perceived Behavioural Control, Attitude towards Food Waste, and Consequences/Outcomes of waste prevention, while Subjective Norms did not exert a statistically significant influence, indicating that formal and informal environmental education can positively influence food waste prevention behaviour through a combination of experiential actions and instruction. The findings of the study can inform policymaking and support the development of effective campaigns for food waste prevention at the consumption stage.

Suggested Citation

  • Theodora Kritikou & Dimosthenis Panagiotakos & Konstantinos Abeliotis & Katia Lasaridi, 2021. "Investigating the Determinants of Greek Households Food Waste Prevention Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:20:p:11451-:d:658069
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11451/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11451/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    2. Christine Göbel & Nina Langen & Antonia Blumenthal & Petra Teitscheid & Guido Ritter, 2015. "Cutting Food Waste through Cooperation along the Food Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Russell, Sally V. & Young, C. William & Unsworth, Kerrie L. & Robinson, Cheryl, 2017. "Bringing habits and emotions into food waste behaviour," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 107-114.
    4. Priefer, Carmen & Jörissen, Juliane & Bräutigam, Klaus-Rainer, 2016. "Food waste prevention in Europe – A cause-driven approach to identify the most relevant leverage points for action," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 155-165.
    5. Graham-Rowe, Ella & Jessop, Donna C. & Sparks, Paul, 2015. "Predicting household food waste reduction using an extended theory of planned behaviour," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 194-202.
    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. Mehmet Efe Biresselioglu & Cigdem Kentmen-Cin & Muhittin Hakan Demir & Zehra Funda Savas & Berfu Solak & Burcin Onder & Gozde Ceviker-Cinar & Berker Ozcureci, 2023. "How to Exploit Sustainable Food Consumption Habits of Individuals: Evidence from a Household Survey in Izmir, Türkiye," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-21, May.
    2. Konstantinos Papamonioudis & Anastasia Zabaniotou, 2022. "Exploring Greek Citizens’ Circular Thinking on Food Waste Recycling in a Circular Economy—A Survey-Based Investigation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-28, April.
    3. Lingfei Wang & Yuqin Yang & Guoyan Wang, 2022. "The Clean Your Plate Campaign: Resisting Table Food Waste in an Unstable World," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Mark Hansley Chua & Yung Yau, 2022. "Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Approach for Determining the Effects of the Waste Charging Scheme on Household Food Waste Recycling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Antonis A. Zorpas & Maria K. Doula & Mejdi Jeguirim, 2021. "Waste Strategies Development in the Framework of Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-5, December.
    6. Yannis E. Doukas & Luca Salvati & Ioannis Vardopoulos, 2023. "Unraveling the European Agricultural Policy Sustainable Development Trajectory," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-24, September.

    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. Nik Masdek Nik Rozana & Wong Kelly Kai Seng & Mohd Nawi Nolila & Sharifuddin Juwaidah & Wong Wang Li, 2023. "Antecedents of sustainable food waste management behaviour: Empirical evidence from urban households in Malaysia," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 53-77, March.
    2. Natasha Juliana & Suddin Lada & Brahim Chekima & Azaze-Azizi Abdul Adis, 2022. "Exploring Determinants Shaping Recycling Behavior Using an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model: An Empirical Study of Households in Sabah, Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Piras, Simone & Righi, Simone & Setti, Marco & Koseoglu, Nazli & Grainger, Matthew & stewart, Gavin & Vittuari, Matteo, 2021. "From social interactions to private environmental behaviours: The case of consumer food waste," SocArXiv 7k4vy, Center for Open Science.
    4. Young, William & Russell, Sally V. & Robinson, Cheryl A. & Barkemeyer, Ralf, 2017. "Can social media be a tool for reducing consumers’ food waste? A behaviour change experiment by a UK retailer," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 117(PB), pages 195-203.
    5. Johannes Schrank & Aphinya Hanchai & Sahapob Thongsalab & Narakorn Sawaddee & Kirana Chanrattanagorn & Chavis Ketkaew, 2023. "Factors of Food Waste Reduction Underlying the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior: A Study of Consumer Behavior towards the Intention to Reduce Food Waste," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Jabeen, Fauzia & Dhir, Amandeep & Islam, Nazrul & Talwar, Shalini & Papa, Armando, 2023. "Emotions and food waste behavior: Do habit and facilitating conditions matter?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PB).
    7. Dang Vu, Hoai Nam & Nielsen, Martin Reinhardt, 2022. "Understanding determinants of the intention to buy rhino horn in Vietnam through the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    8. Wei Zheng & Hongliang Qiu & Alastair M. Morrison & Wei Wei & Xihua Zhang, 2022. "Landscape and Unique Fascination: A Dual-Case Study on the Antecedents of Tourist Pro-Environmental Behavioral Intentions," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, March.
    9. Francesco La Barbera & Mario Amato & Roberta Riverso & Fabio Verneau, 2022. "Social Emotions and Good Provider Norms in Tackling Household Food Waste: An Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-12, August.
    10. Jingjing Wang & Mingyue Li & Sinan Li & Kai Chen, 2022. "Understanding Consumers’ Food Waste Reduction Behavior—A Study Based on Extended Norm Activation Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Masoud Yazdanpanah & Maryam Tajeri Moghadam & Farhad Javan & Mojtaba Deghanpour & Stefan Sieber & Peyman Falsafi, 2022. "How rationality, morality, and fear shape willingness to carry out organic crop cultivation: a case study of farmers in southwestern Iran," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 2145-2163, February.
    12. Wallace, Elaine & Buil, Isabel, 2023. "Antecedents and consequences of conspicuous green behavior on social media: Incorporating the virtual self-identity into the theory of planned behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    13. Talwar, Shalini & Kaur, Puneet & Yadav, Rambalak & Bilgihan, Anil & Dhir, Amandeep, 2021. "What drives diners' eco-friendly behaviour? The moderating role of planning routine," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    14. Staudacher, Myriam K. & Decker, Alexander J., 2021. "Guidelines für erfolgreiches Marketing von digitalen Lösungen gegen Lebensmittelverschwendung zur Ansprache von Generation Z in Deutschland," PraxisWISSEN Marketing: German Journal of Marketing, AfM – Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Marketing, vol. 6(01/2021), pages 25-55.
    15. Thanos Ioannou & Katerina Bazigou & Afroditi Katsigianni & Michalis Fotiadis & Christina Chroni & Thrassyvoulos Manios & Ioannis Daliakopoulos & Christos Tsompanidis & Eleni Michalodimitraki & Katia L, 2022. "The “A2UFood Training Kit”: Participatory Workshops to Minimize Food Loss and Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-24, February.
    16. Xiangdong Shen & Junbin Wang & Li Wang & Chunlan Jiao, 2023. "Forecasting the different influencing factors of household food waste behavior in China under the COVID‐19 pandemic," Journal of Forecasting, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(8), pages 2322-2340, December.
    17. Md. Mahiuddin Sabbir & Khan Md Raziuddin Taufique, 2022. "Sustainable employee green behavior in the workplace: Integrating cognitive and non‐cognitive factors in corporate environmental policy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 110-128, January.
    18. Gao, Lan & Wang, Shanyong & Li, Jun & Li, Haidong, 2017. "Application of the extended theory of planned behavior to understand individual’s energy saving behavior in workplaces," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 107-113.
    19. Jun Igeta & Hiroki Nakamura, 2022. "Business Incentive to Reduce Food Losses in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, February.
    20. Bright Obuobi & Hong Wang & Faustina Awuah & Emmanuel Nketiah & Gibbson Adu-Gyamfi & Mavis Adjei, 2024. "The aftermath of COVID-19 impacts: examining the impact of COVID-19 on residents' current food waste behavior," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 25503-25526, October.

    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:13:y:2021:i:20:p:11451-:d:658069. 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.