Colour coding the fridge to reduce food waste

Abstract

This paper introduces the first iteration of a study aimed at grouping similar food types together in a refrigerator to increase the awareness of available foods for consumers in a domestic environment. The goals of the project are twofold: i) Raise the awareness of available foods for all members of a household; ii) Reduce the amount of expired food waste in the household. The project implemented a paper-based colour scheme in refrigerators in households, assigning colours to particular food types (e.g. green to fruit and vegetables, red to meat, etc.). The findings show that the colour coding raised participants' awareness of available food items in the fridge, particularly for those participants who were not directly involved in the shopping and initial storage of each food item. The findings also indicate that such awareness led to a reduction in expiration of food and thus general food waste in the household. These preliminary findings suggest that raising awareness of food availability through categorisation and efficient communication of this information may lead to a reduction in food waste in domestic environments.

Food talks back

“…The findings indicate systematic storage is not a common practice amongst our participants. The virtual colour code scheme was found not to be as effective as the physical colour code scheme (Farr-Wharton, Foth et al, 2012) in reducing food waste. One explanation suggests the app requires the user to observe the colour code scheme via EatChaFood before placing food in the systematic location.…”

“…Secondly, it provides users with a colour code scheme to improve systematic storage within their fridge. Users customise the colours representing foods on their fridge shelving, as described by Farr-Wharton, Foth et al (2012). Thirdly, a shared space named 'Fridgescope' (Fig.…”

Can we reduce waste and waist together through EUPHORIA?

“…Due to a time span between the moment of being informed and the actual moments when a decision is made, this strategy could be ineffective. 2) Human computer interaction: In [31] it was suggested that using the color code scheme in the refrigerator reduces the amount of expired food waste by increasing the awareness of available foods in the refrigerator for all members in a household. Clear et al [32] evaluated the potential of design interventions for the practice of cooking.…”

Visual research methods and communication design

“…Additionally, DiSalvo and Vertesi [12], Hall, Jones, Richardson, and Hodgson [17], and Fleron and Pederson [16] have all described the potential of visual methods in studies of human computer interaction. More recently, Farr-Wharton, Foth, and Choi [14] and Jarvis, Cameron, and Boucher [21] have used visual methods (particularly photography) to both study and implement HCI design projects. And work in related areas such as computer science education and game design has similarly advocated for more robust visual research methods, including visual ethnography (see, for example, Fincher, Tenenberg, and Robins [15], and Chan [8]).…”