In the most comprehensive study of its kind, Fight Food Waste CRC says households can save almost $1000 per person by cutting food waste.
Designing effective interventions to reduce household food waste research project revealed we throw out $19.3 billion worth of food a year, which is more than have the annual $36.6 billion worth of food wasted from farm to fork in the Australian economy.
Report co-authors Dr Gamithri Karunasena and Professor David Pearson from the Fight Food Waste CRC said the research showed the need for a major nationwide behaviour change campaign centred on helping consumers reduce the amount of food they waste.
“The report captures key findings from our research. These are based on analysis of data from 2800 Australian households and their behaviours around food waste.
“This research paints the fullest picture yet of our current behaviours around food waste in the home, and also points towards the simple steps that can be taken by Australians to begin to reduce their food waste,” Karunasena said.
Findings
- the biggest way for households to save money is by reducing wasted meat and fresh vegetables;
- families with young children, particularly when both adults work full-time, have the largest opportunity to reduce food waste; and
- to reduce food waste in the home, the key areas to focus on are:
- preparing appropriate amounts of food;
- planning for changes in meal plans;
- eating leftovers; and
- purchasing appropriate amounts.
With Australia committed to halving its food waste by 2030, the project’s findings have major implications for governments, industry and policymakers.
The research provided insights into the different types of food waste personas the CRC developed last year – over providers, under planners and considerate planners.
“All of us waste food, and we each fit one of these personas. However, we also know Australians do not want to waste food and now we know what to do to help them in that,” Karunasena said.
Fight Food Waste CRC CEO Dr Steven Lapidge said the report was even more important in light of the rising cost of living.
“This research comes at a critical time. Australia has set an ambitious goal of halving its food waste by 2030. It will be challenging to achieve but not impossible. Research like this helps as it shows the extent of the problem and how we can start to solve it.
“While it shows how much of a financial burden food waste can be for Australian households, it also identifies how we can reduce our food waste and save money.
“It’s particularly important for decision-makers in Federal, State and Local Governments, supermarkets, and food businesses who can use the data and learnings to inform and improve the impact from their waste reduction campaigns.
“There is growing momentum for a nationwide consumer behaviour change campaign around food waste, and we would expect this research to underpin such a vital undertaking,” Lapidge said.
The report can be downloaded here.
