IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v33y2025i1p30-51.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Overcoming barriers to sustainable development: Evaluating what information frameworks matter and how they work in reducing consumer food waste

Author

Listed:
  • Ting Xu
  • Lingyun Mi
  • Xuejiao Wang
  • Jiali Han
  • Lijie Qiao
  • Hongwei Chen
  • Yuchuan Jiang

Abstract

The alarming food waste in restaurants exacerbates the deteriorating global food security crisis and hinders the achievement of sustainable development goals. What information interventions can restaurants provide to effectively reduce consumer food waste? This question remains unresolved. To this end, based on the extended Stimulus‐Organism‐Response (SOR) theory, this study conducted two experiments to investigate which information frameworks are more effective in reducing consumer food waste behavior (FWB) in restaurants and how these interventions trigger consumers' intrinsic psychological mechanisms. Study 1 (N = 643) found that feedback‐based information has a significantly greater inhibitory effect on FWB than prompt‐type information, with the strongest effect observed when feedback‐based and loss information are coupled. The results of Study 2 (N = 608) confirmed that anticipated guilt mediates the partial paths between information frameworks and FWB. Additionally, moral face consciousness moderates the relationship between anticipated guilt and FWB, whereby for individuals with a stronger moral face consciousness, the inhibition effect of anticipated guilt on FWB is greater. This study contributes to the current theory and literature, providing valuable recommendations for restaurant managers and policymakers on how to effectively utilize information interventions to reduce food waste, thereby mitigating the global food security crisis and promoting social sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Ting Xu & Lingyun Mi & Xuejiao Wang & Jiali Han & Lijie Qiao & Hongwei Chen & Yuchuan Jiang, 2025. "Overcoming barriers to sustainable development: Evaluating what information frameworks matter and how they work in reducing consumer food waste," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 30-51, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:1:p:30-51
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.3102
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3102
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.3102?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Khalil, Mary & Septianto, Felix & Lang, Bodo & Northey, Gavin, 2021. "The interactive effect of numerical precision and message framing in increasing consumer awareness of food waste issues," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    2. Zheng, Han & Chen, Kai & Ma, Zhuoyuan, 2023. "Interactive effects of social norms and information framing on consumers' willingness of food waste reduction behavior," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Talwar, Shalini & Kaur, Puneet & Kumar, Sushant & Salo, Jari & Dhir, Amandeep, 2022. "The balancing act: How do moral norms and anticipated pride drive food waste/reduction behaviour?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    5. Pratyush Jain & Anjali Sarawgi & Pragati Jain, 2023. "Environmental cost of food wastage: Integrated response through a mix of environmental policy instruments," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2464-2470, August.
    6. Siqi Dai & Kai Chen & Rui Jin, 2022. "The effect of message framing and language intensity on green consumption behavior willingness," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 2432-2452, February.
    7. Huang, Zhen & Wang, Cheng Lu, 2018. "Conspicuous consumption in emerging market: The case of Chinese migrant workers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 366-373.
    8. Taya Cohen & A. Panter & Nazli Turan, 2013. "Predicting Counterproductive Work Behavior from Guilt Proneness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(1), pages 45-53, April.
    9. Reynolds, Christian & Goucher, Liam & Quested, Tom & Bromley, Sarah & Gillick, Sam & Wells, Victoria K. & Evans, David & Koh, Lenny & Carlsson Kanyama, Annika & Katzeff, Cecilia & Svenfelt, Åsa & Jack, 2019. "Review: Consumption-stage food waste reduction interventions – What works and how to design better interventions," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 7-27.
    10. Onwezen, Marleen C. & Antonides, Gerrit & Bartels, Jos, 2013. "The Norm Activation Model: An exploration of the functions of anticipated pride and guilt in pro-environmental behaviour," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 141-153.
    11. Haksin Chan & Lisa C. Wan & Leo Y. M. Sin, 2009. "The Contrasting Effects of Culture on Consumer Tolerance: Interpersonal Face and Impersonal Fate," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 36(2), pages 292-304.
    12. Ropret Homar, Aja & Knežević Cvelbar, Ljubica, 2021. "The effects of framing on environmental decisions: A systematic literature review," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    13. Heesup Han & Hossein G.T. Olya & Jinkyung (Jenny) Kim & Wansoo Kim, 2018. "Model of sustainable behavior: Assessing cognitive, emotional and normative influence in the cruise context," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(7), pages 789-800, November.
    14. Van de Velde, Liesbeth & Verbeke, Wim & Popp, Michael & Van Huylenbroeck, Guido, 2010. "The importance of message framing for providing information about sustainability and environmental aspects of energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 5541-5549, October.
    15. Xianchuan Yang & Shih‐Chih Chen & Lei Zhang, 2020. "Promoting sustainable development: A research on residents' green purchasing behavior from a perspective of the goal‐framing theory," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1208-1219, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Dai, Jiatong & Gong, Siyu, 2024. "Sustainable messaging strategies and consumer food waste: The congruence effect between message framing and state anxiety," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Tang, Pok Man & Yam, Kai Chi & Koopman, Joel, 2020. "Feeling proud but guilty? Unpacking the paradoxical nature of unethical pro-organizational behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 68-86.
    3. Zheng, Chundong & Liu, Xinru & Liu, Shuqin, 2024. "How to make busy individuals donate more? The matching effect of charitable appeals and busyness on willingness to donate," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Lulu Wang & Hu Yu & Bin Zhou, 2025. "Formation mechanism of tourists’ pro-environmental behavior in plateau ecotourism destination," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Wang, Jianming & Li, Yongqiang & He, Zhengxia & Gao, Jian & Wang, Jianguo, 2022. "Scale framing, benefit framing and their interaction effects on energy-saving behaviors: Evidence from urban residents of China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    6. S. Ceolotto & E. Denny, 2024. "Putting a New ‘Spin’ on Energy Information: Measuring the Impact of Reframing Energy Efficiency Information on Tumble Dryer Choices in a Multi-country Experiment," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 51-108, March.
    7. Zheng, Han & Chen, Kai & Ma, Zhuoyuan, 2023. "Interactive effects of social norms and information framing on consumers' willingness of food waste reduction behavior," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    8. Mundaca, Luis & Wamsler, Christine, 2025. "Engaging high-income earners in climate action: Policy insights from survey experiments," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    9. Chae, Myoung-Jin & Kim, Yanghee & Roh, Taewoo, 2024. "Consumers’ attention, experience, and action to organic consumption: The moderating role of anticipated pride and moral obligation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    10. Lee, Stacy H.N. & Chang, Hyo Jung (Julie) & Zhao, Li, 2023. "The importance of personal norms and situational expectancies to sustainable behaviors: The norm activation and situational expectancy-value theories," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    11. Alice Wistar & Marissa G. Hall & Maxime Bercholz & Lindsey Smith Taillie, 2022. "Designing Environmental Messages to Discourage Red Meat Consumption: An Online Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, March.
    12. Myung Ja Kim & C. Michael Hall, 2019. "Can Climate Change Awareness Predict Pro-Environmental Practices in Restaurants? Comparing High and Low Dining Expenditure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-20, November.
    13. Scott T. Armbruster & Rajesh V. Manchanda & Ngan Vo, 2022. "When Are Loss Frames More Effective in Climate Change Communication? An Application of Fear Appeal Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-16, June.
    14. Jiang, Shiyan & Chen, Hong & Zhang, Jianqiang & Shan, Peng & Ma, Wanqi, 2024. "Promoting public participation in reducing food waste: A large-scale multiple randomized controlled trial," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    15. Duong, Cong Doanh, 2023. "“What goes around comes around†: Activating sustainable consumption with curvilinear effects of karma determinants," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    16. Morais, Ana Catarina & Ishida, Akira & Matsuda, Ruriko, 2024. "Ethical food consumption drivers in Japan. A S–O-R framework application using PLS-SEM with a MGA assessment based on clustering," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    17. Hang Lu & APPC 2018–2019 ASK Group & Kenneth Winneg & Kathleen Hall Jamieson & Dolores Albarracín, 2020. "Intentions to Seek Information About the Influenza Vaccine: The Role of Informational Subjective Norms, Anticipated and Experienced Affect, and Information Insufficiency Among Vaccinated and Unvaccina," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(10), pages 2040-2056, October.
    18. Siyang Zhang & Minjuan Zhao & Qi Ni & Yu Cai, 2021. "Modelling Farmers’ Watershed Ecological Protection Behaviour with the Value-Belief-Norm Theory: A Case Study of the Wei River Basin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-17, May.
    19. Han, Heesup & Hyun, Sunghyup Sean, 2018. "What influences water conservation and towel reuse practices of hotel guests?," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 87-97.
    20. Hilary Byerly Flint & Paul Cada & Patricia A. Champ & Jamie Gomez & Danny Margoles & James R. Meldrum & Hannah Brenkert-Smith, 2022. "You vs. us: framing adaptation behavior in terms of private or social benefits," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 1-17, September.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:1:p:30-51. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    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.