Effects of Nudging on Consumer Food Waste

Details

Supervisors

Desmet, Carlos

Faculty

Louvain School of Management

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur de gestion, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

Food waste is a critical global issue with significant implications for the economy, environment, and society. A substantial share of food waste occurs at private households, making individual consumers pivotal in addressing this challenge and transitioning to more sustainable uses of food. Given that food waste is highly influenced by daily routines and habitual practices, behavioral interventions have gained popularity to promote individual action at the household level. In this regard, nudges have emerged as a smart approach to steer consumers toward sustainable behavior choices, including the reduction of food waste. This research employs a quantitative experimental diary study design to assess the effect of a digital reminder nudge on consumer food waste behavior. Over four weeks, 28 individuals documented their daily food waste, offering detailed insights into consumer food waste behavior at the household level. The diary study was complemented with two additional surveys, one before and one after the diary study period. Results show that the reminder nudge did not lead to a significant overall decrease in food waste for participants in the treatment group. Nevertheless, it revealed a significant negative impact on reported food waste quantities for participants in the treatment group that showcased a high willingness to increase the sustainable use of food in their own households. Therefore, the willingness to enhance sustainable food practices appears to moderate the effectiveness of the reminder nudge. Furthermore, those who received the nudge reported greater food waste awareness and perceived behavioral change due to the study. The study’s findings pave the way for real-world applications of digital reminder nudges by practitioners, highlighting the importance of understanding recipients’ attitudes towards sustainable behavior changes. However, future research with larger samples and longer durations is necessary to validate the results and gain insights into the long-term effects of digital reminder nudges on consumer food waste.