Food waste in Australian households: Role of shopping habits and personal motivations

The intensity of household food waste is of concern throughout the world, especially, in developed countries like Australia where it accounts for 34% of all food wasted along the value chain. Due to these concerns, there has been an emergence of research over the last decade to support policy interventions. This study contributes to this body of knowledge by examining the influence of consumer shopping habits and motivational factors on the intensity of food wasted by Australian households. Based on data from an online survey of 5272 Australian households, results of this study reveal that most of the shopping habits examined (except buying food based on what is on special) have significant impacts on the intensity of food wasted. Furthermore, based on two-step cluster analysis, it was found that consumers from different backgrounds possess similar types of shopping habits, however, they are different in terms of their levels of motivations aiming to reduce food being wasted. The insights provide guidance for practitioners and policymakers regarding what actions to be taken to reduce food waste in Australian households.