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Promoting Food Waste Reduction at Primary Schools. A Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Adriana Antón-Peset

    (Department of Experimental and Social Sciences Education, Universitat de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Maria-Angeles Fernandez-Zamudio

    (Centro para el Desarrollo de la Agricultura Sostenible, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Moncada, 46113 Valencia, Spain)

  • Tatiana Pina

    (Department of Experimental and Social Sciences Education, Universitat de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

Food waste (FW) has recently attracted the interest of different institutions and has been the focus of many studies due to its important environmental, social and economic impact. This paper aims to analyze whether a didactic intervention, consisting of informing teachers and pupils and involving pupils in reducing FW, could bring about changes in the level of knowledge and attitude towards FW and in the amount of FW generated during the mid-morning break and lunch at schools. This study was conducted at a public Primary School in Valencia (Spain). Subtle changes in the level of knowledge and attitude towards FW were detected in teachers and pupils after the intervention. Around 30% of FW reduction at lunch was observed in the intervention group but not in the other groups. A decrease of almost half of the average weight was observed during the mid-morning break in the rest of primary groups. The results apparently show that addressing the FW issue in classrooms can have a very positive effect on children’s attitudes. As it is such a cross-cutting issue; it raises awareness about a large group of Sustainable Development Goals, and encourages these young citizens to make conscious decisions and to act responsibly.

Suggested Citation

  • Adriana Antón-Peset & Maria-Angeles Fernandez-Zamudio & Tatiana Pina, 2021. "Promoting Food Waste Reduction at Primary Schools. A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:600-:d:477852
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Ibrahim Elshaer & Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Mansour Alyahya & Ahmed Abu Elnasr, 2021. "The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Grace Gardner & Wendy Burton & Maddie Sinclair & Maria Bryant, 2023. "Interventions to Strengthen Environmental Sustainability of School Food Systems: Narrative Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-17, May.
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    5. Eva L. Jenkins & Linda Brennan & Michaela Jackson & Tracy A. McCaffrey, 2023. "Re-Licious: Co-Design with Adolescents to Turn Leftovers into Delicious and Healthy Meals—A School-Based Pilot Intervention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-16, August.
    6. Aleksander Buczacki & Bartłomiej Gładysz & Erika Palmer, 2021. "HoReCa Food Waste and Sustainable Development Goals—A Systemic View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.
    7. Yasutaka Ozaki & Rajib Shaw, 2022. "Citizens’ Social Participation to Implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-18, November.

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