Food for naught: Using the theory of planned behaviour to better understand household food wasting behaviour

• DOI: 10.1111/cag.12519
• Publication Date: 2019-03-19T01:48:32Z
• Authors: Paul van der Werf; Jamie A. Seabrook; Jason A. Gilliland
• Keywords: Food Waste

Abstract To better understand food wasting behaviour, the theory of planned behaviour was used to inform development a survey which administered households in London, Ontario, Canada. Respondent (n = 1,263) threw out avoidable waste 4.77 times/week (SD 4.81, Mdn 4.0) and 5.89 portions/week 5.66, 4.0). When asked choose one three possible motivators reduce 58.9% selected reducing monetary loss as their first choice this significantly (p < 0.001) higher than both environmental impact (23.9%) social impacts (17.2%). A linear hierarchical regression analysis (R 2 0.30, p on intention avoid demonstrated that perceived behavioural control personal norms had greatest positive intention. 0.32, self‐reported showed attitudes 0.01) resulted less while more children household behaviour. Interventions seek strengthen convey could help its disposal.