New Report Examines Consumer Food Waste Behaviors

A new report from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has shed light on the attitudes and behaviors of citizens when it comes to food waste outside of the home.

The report, titled "Citizen Food Waste Attitudes and Behaviours Out of Home," provides insights into how individuals approach food waste in restaurants, cafeterias, and other food service establishments.

The report's findings are based on a survey of over 2,000 UK citizens, which was conducted in late 2022. The survey asked participants about their attitudes towards food waste, their behaviors when eating out, and their perceptions of food waste in food service establishments.

One of the key findings of the report is that citizens are becoming increasingly aware of the issue of food waste. Over 90 percent of survey respondents stated that they are concerned about food waste, and over 80% believe that reducing food waste is an important issue. Additionally, over half of respondents reported that they try to reduce their own food waste when eating out.

Despite this awareness, however, the report also found that there are still significant barriers to reducing food waste in food service establishments. For example, over 40 percent of respondents stated that they feel that they have little control over the amount of food they are served when eating out. This can make it difficult for individuals to control the amount of food they waste, even if they are motivated to do so.

The report also found that there is a lack of awareness about the environmental impact of food waste. While the majority of respondents expressed concern about food waste, only around 20 percent were aware of the significant environmental impacts of food waste, such as greenhouse gas emissions and the use of natural resources.

In response to the report's findings, WRAP is calling on food service establishments to take action to reduce food waste. This could include measures such as offering smaller portion sizes, providing more information to customers about the environmental impact of food waste, and implementing food waste reduction targets.

Commenting on the report, WRAP's Chief Executive, Marcus Gover, said: "This report provides important insights into the attitudes and behaviors of citizens when it comes to food waste outside of the home. While it is encouraging to see that there is a high level of concern about food waste, there are still significant barriers to reducing food waste in food service establishments. We hope that this report will encourage food service establishments to take action to reduce food waste, and that it will also raise awareness among citizens about the environmental impacts of food waste."