Using Causal Maps to Analyse the Major Root Causes of Household Food Waste: Results of a Survey among People from Central and Southern Italy

Abstract

Food waste is an important sustainability issue that needs to be addressed. Consumer behaviour is one of the biggest sources of food waste in developed countries. To successfully reduce consumer-related food waste, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of its major root causes at the level of the individual. The present manuscript presents the results of an exploratory on-line survey that was made available through Google Drive and conducted among a representative sample of 1058 Italian individuals. The information contained in the questionnaire related to the characteristics of the individual respondents, their attitudes to expenditure and food, and their opinions of measures to reduce or prevent food waste. Data analysis was conducted in three phases. The first phase allowed for the identification, with the application of descriptive statistics, of the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and why, what, and how much they wasted. In the second phase, linear regression analysis and causal maps were used to both measure the statistical dependence between variables and to identify the main root causes of food waste in the phase of individual consumption. As expected, the perceived quantity of food waste that was declared by respondents was very low. Among the major root causes identified, the socio-demographic characteristics of consumers, types of food shopping purchases, and consumer behaviour played a key role. A causal map was drawn, which offers an immediate vision of the major root causes and can be a useful tool for policymakers who intend to introduce measures to combat food waste. Finally, participants’ responses showed that the main initiatives needed to eliminate waste are the separate collection and dissemination of more information on the impact that waste has on the environment. For these reasons, information and education policies are crucial for changing consumer lifestyles and raising awareness of the value of food.

Losses in the Grain Supply Chain: Causes and Solutions

“…The lack of special education is a very strong limiting factor causing very high losses before and after harvest. This conclusion is consistent with previous studies [24,29,30].…”

“…Multivariate statistical techniques (descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis) were conducted to study the similarities and differences-namely the links between the structure of the food supply and the impact of agricultural practices on the environment between EU Member States [25]. Another study performed an exploratory online survey using a questionnaire adapted for studies on FW [24]. Furthermore, multivariate analyses was carried out for a comparative analysis of the environmental characteristics of the EU Member States with different agricultural systems [26].…”

“…A survey conducted in Italy showed three key factors defining the extent of household FW, namely socio-demographic characteristics (household income spent on food), food shopping patterns and consumer behavior. More education and information are needed for the prevention of household FW [24]. Another study identified measures to combat FW along the food value chain in the metropolitan region of Barcelona and stressed the relevance of more research, since stakeholders oppose the introduction of new regulations and policies.…”

Quantities, Determinants, and Awareness of Households’ Food Waste in Italy: A Comparison between Diary and Questionnaires Quantities

“…Questionnaires report intentions, which do not necessarily correspond to facts [7][8][9], especially in the environmental field [10]. A comprehensive literature review on the methods and results about Italian studies [11] highlights that, regardless the method applied to analyze data, surveys have been always conducted through the use of questionnaires [12][13][14][15][16][17] and estimations between 0.3 and 0.6 kg per week per household have been provided, with the most recent exception of [18], who provided a value of 36 kg per person per year. With the exception of one study [19], where the diary format was used to test the impact of an educational intervention of the food waste reduction, diary was never run in Italy before the present survey, neither was run waste sorting analyses, with the exception of [20].…”

The Impact of Education and Residential Environment on Long-Term Waste Management Behavior in the Context of Sustainability

“…Another category of studies addresses different components of waste generation (institutional, residential and commercial) [26][27][28][29][30][31]. Thus, the analysis by Hockett et al [32] highlighted that retail sales (including restaurant, grocery and clothing sales) and disposal taxes have a significant impact on waste generation.…”