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What Nudge Techniques Work for Food Waste Behaviour Change at the Consumer Level? A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Hannah Barker

    (Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK)

  • Peter J. Shaw

    (Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK)

  • Beth Richards

    (Hampshire County Council, Winchester SO23 8UJ, UK)

  • Zoe Clegg

    (Hampshire County Council, Winchester SO23 8UJ, UK)

  • Dianna Smith

    (Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK)

Abstract

In European countries over 40% of food loss and waste occurs at the retail and consumer stages; this situation cannot be sustained and remediation is urgently needed; opportunities for change must be created. “Nudge” techniques have been shown to be effective in changing behaviour in areas related to food consumption (e.g., healthy diet), but the effectiveness of interventions using nudge techniques to change food waste behaviours remains unclear, despite a growing body of research. The aim of this review is to elucidate means to change household food waste behaviour using nudge approaches and identify priority needs for further research. Four databases, grey literature and reference lists were searched systematically to identify relevant research on nudges to change food waste behaviours. This search identified sixteen peer-reviewed research articles and two grey literature reports that were critically appraised using a critical appraisal checklist framework for descriptive/case series. Four studies deemed reliable show interventions using nudges of social norms, reminders or social norms with disclosure were effective in changing food waste behaviours at the household level, while disclosure alone, i.e., revealing environmental costs of food waste, was not. This review, unique in the application of a critical appraisal, suggests there is reliable information on the effectiveness of nudge for food waste recycling interventions when incorporating nudges of social norms, reminders or disclosure alongside use of social norms. If food waste recycling behaviour is considered an upstream measure to raise consumers’ consciousness on the amount of food waste they produce, this may have a positive impact on food waste reduction and therefore has important policy implications for food waste behaviour change at the household level.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannah Barker & Peter J. Shaw & Beth Richards & Zoe Clegg & Dianna Smith, 2021. "What Nudge Techniques Work for Food Waste Behaviour Change at the Consumer Level? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:11099-:d:651619
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christine Kawa & Wim H. Gijselaers & Jan F. H. Nijhuis & Patrizia M. Ianiro-Dahm, 2022. "Are You “Nudgeable”? Factors Affecting the Acceptance of Healthy Eating Nudges in a Cafeteria Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Hannah Barker & Peter J. Shaw & Beth Richards & Zoe Clegg & Dianna M. Smith, 2023. "Towards Sustainable Food Systems: Exploring Household Food Waste by Photographic Diary in Relation to Unprocessed, Processed and Ultra-Processed Food," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Mehdi Mahmoudi & Hosein Mohammadi & Sayed Saghaian & Alireza Karbasi, 2024. "Factors Affecting the Waste of Selected Agricultural Products with an Emphasis on the Marketing Mix," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Tafur Gómez, Jorge Andrés & Martínez Giraldo, Jhully Paulin, 2024. "Students' perception of the application of nudges," Revista Tendencias, Universidad de Narino, vol. 25(2), pages 190-218, July.
    5. Danica Jobson & Gamithri Gayana Karunasena & Nazia Nabi & David Pearson & Emily Dunstan, 2024. "A Systematic Review of Pre-Post Studies Testing Behaviour Change Interventions to Reduce Consumer Food Waste in the Household," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-31, February.
    6. Michela Balconi & Carlotta Acconito & Katia Rovelli & Laura Angioletti, 2023. "Influence of and Resistance to Nudge Decision-Making in Professionals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-17, October.
    7. Marco Bardus & May A. Massoud, 2022. "Predicting the Intention to Sort Waste at Home in Rural Communities in Lebanon: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, July.
    8. Li Jia & Guanghua Qiao, 2022. "Quantification, Environmental Impact, and Behavior Management: A Bibliometric Analysis and Review of Global Food Waste Research Based on CiteSpace," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.

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