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A Review of Household Food Waste Generation during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Haley Everitt

    (Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Department of Geography and Environment, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Paul van der Werf

    (Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Department of Geography and Environment, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Jason A. Gilliland

    (Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Department of Geography and Environment, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
    Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the quantity and composition of household food waste generation in parallel with recent changes to food behaviors. A literature review was undertaken to determine the state of household food wasting during pandemic circumstances. Forty-one articles that reported on household food waste generation during COVID-19 were identified. Most of these studies relied on self-reported recall of food wasting behavior ( n = 35), primarily collected through surveys. The average total amount of household food waste generated during COVID-19 was 0.91 kg per capita per week. Average avoidable food waste generation was 0.40 kg per capita per week and average unavoidable food waste generation was 0.51 kg per capita per week. Fruit and vegetables were the most wasted types of food. Only five studies reported statistically significant changes (actual or perceived) to household food waste generation during COVID-19. These results indicate a possible decrease in total, perceived food waste generation during pandemic circumstances, with a possible increase in the actual generation of unavoidable food waste. Further research is needed to adequately determine the impact of the pandemic on household food waste generation, as the findings summarized in this review vary substantially and statistically significant results are limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Haley Everitt & Paul van der Werf & Jason A. Gilliland, 2023. "A Review of Household Food Waste Generation during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:7:p:5760-:d:1107442
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kelly Cosgrove & Maricarmen Vizcaino & Christopher Wharton, 2021. "COVID-19-Related Changes in Perceived Household Food Waste in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-11, January.
    2. Benjamin Scharadin & Yang Yu & Edward C. Jaenicke, 2021. "Household time activities, food waste, and diet quality: the impact of non-marginal changes due to COVID-19," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 399-428, June.
    3. Paul van der Werf & Kristian Larsen & Jamie A. Seabrook & Jason Gilliland, 2020. "How Neighbourhood Food Environments and a Pay-as-You-Throw (PAYT) Waste Program Impact Household Food Waste Disposal in the City of Toronto," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-20, August.
    4. Sarra Jribi & Hanen Ben Ismail & Darine Doggui & Hajer Debbabi, 2020. "COVID-19 virus outbreak lockdown: What impacts on household food wastage?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 3939-3955, June.
    5. Janet Music & Sylvain Charlebois & Louise Spiteri & Shannon Farrell & Alysha Griffin, 2021. "Increases in Household Food Waste in Canada as a Result of COVID-19: An Exploratory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-11, November.
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    7. Emma L. Sharp & Jillian Haszard & Victoria Egli & Rajshri Roy & Lisa Te Morenga & Lauranna Teunissen & Paulien Decorte & Isabelle Cuykx & Charlotte De Backer & Sarah Gerritsen, 2021. "Less Food Wasted? Changes to New Zealanders’ Household Food Waste and Related Behaviours Due to the 2020 COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    8. Lea Kubíčková & Lucie Veselá & Marcela Kormaňáková, 2021. "Food Waste Behaviour at the Consumer Level: Pilot Study on Czech Private Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-24, October.
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