Household food waste management: socio-ecological dimensions. Issue 9 (24th July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aitsidou, Vasiliki; Michailidis, Anastasios; Partalidou, Maria; Iakovidou, Olga
• Is Part Of: British food journal. Volume 121:Issue 9(2019)
• Page Start: 2163
• Page End: 2178
• Publication Date: 2019-07-24
• Subjects: Greece -- Campaigns -- Household food waste -- Principal component analysis -- Socio-ecological -- t-Test; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food -- Marketing -- Periodicals; Food adulteration and inspection -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; 381.456413
• DOI: 10.1108/BFJ-02-2019-0111
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-070X

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to estimate respondents' socio-ecological consciousness (SEC) (knowledge, perceptions, behaviour, habits and feelings) concerning household food waste (HFW) and to identify factors that influence attitude concerning HFW. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected through a questionnaire survey addressing to 279 residents in Western Macedonia, Greece. A principal component analysis was primarily applied to provide a manageable set of variables relevant to SEC. These variables were analyzed according to their positive/negative influence in SEC through descriptive statistics. Independent samples t -test analysis was employed to examine factors that influence HFW. Findings: Results show that SEC is formed by three main activities: knowledge, perception and attitude. The survey reveals an inconsistency between existing knowledge and problematic perceptions, while the attitude includes neither harmful nor harmless HFW-related activities. A significant finding is that respondents' age affects food rejection in different consumption stages in a household. Research limitations/implications: Reliance on self-reported data for HFW that concerns a Greek case study does not allow a generalization of results. Practical implications: The authors suggest a campaign plan for local bodies. The aim is to enhance respondents' perceptual abilities and attitude concerning HFW. In order to raise awareness of students and individuals/households, related campaigns could be implemented by educational institutions and other policymakers. Originality/value: The survey provides information for HFW, a topic not widely examined in Greece, and it is analyzed for the first time on the basis of SEC theory.