Examining consumer food waste through grocery retailers' customer data: Segments and practical implications

Abstract

Grocery retailers have a large amount of societally relevant data on food purchases in their databases, which they have traditionally used merely for marketing purposes.However, despite the potential, the data have so far been rarely used in sustainability-related research. This study addresses a key sustainability challengethe reduction of food waste-by using retailers' customer data and a questionnaire. This paper's purpose is to identify and analyse household food waste segments and discuss their actual purchasing behaviour patterns. By doing so, we also illustrate and exemplify the potential use of customer loyalty card data to address global challenges related to food at the consumer level. The study utilizes an extensive data set of food purchases together with a survey of self-reported reasons for food waste in households. Utilizing cluster analysis, Phase 1 identifies six household segments: no food waste; trust in date labels; safety first; occasional wasters; overpurchasers and overpreparers; and family first. These segments differ in their sociodemographic and purchase profiles. In Phase 2, these segments' purchasing behaviour is examined further by applying tree-based methods. This study contributes to food waste research and studies on sustainable retailing. It also has practical implications for how retailers can facilitate household food waste reduction.

Navigating the contemporary landscape of food waste management in developing countries: A comprehensive overview and prospective analysis

“…In the first group, characterized by countries with GNIs exceeding US$42,000, FW generation exhibits a gradual decline as income levels rise. This reduction in FW generation is attributed to the implementation of "zero waste" policies in these developed nations, such as Australia, Singapore, Norway, the United States, Germany and Sweden, as reported by Cook et al, [ 18 ]; Kua, [ 20 ]; Orr et al, [ 16 ]; Gallo, [ 21 ]; Orr et al, [ 16 ]; Weber et al, [ 19 ]. The main beliefs of "zero waste" initiatives pertaining to FW emphasis on rising digression rates and minimizing waste generation throughout food making developments.…”

“…Firstly, as per a recently published report from the United Nations, the current global population of 7.6 billion is anticipated to rise to 8.6 billion by 2030, 9.8 billion by 2050, and a staggering 11.2 billion by 2100. This growth trajectory remains consistent, with approximately 83 million individuals being added to the world's population each year, even if fertility rates decline [ 21 ]. While the individual generation rates of FW in developing countries are lower due to reduced food demand and consumption standards, the higher overall populations of 137 developing nations, in contrast to 49 developed nations, result in a total FW generation that is nearly equivalent to that of developed countries [ [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] ].…”

“…The combined impact of population growth as well as ever-increasing financial challenges in developing nations are some key reasons for this [ 19 ]. As per FAO report of 2023, the global annual FW generation amounts to approximately 60,849,145 tons per year [ 21 ]. Interestingly, this study found no significant disparity between developed countries, where the annual FW generation was estimated at 804 million tons, and developing countries, where it stood at 768.6 million tons.…”

“…Conversely, the second group of developed countries, characterized by GNIs below US$102,450, experiences a different trend in FW generation. In these nations, "zero waste" policies have not been widely adopted, leading to a lower diversion rate for FW and higher levels of virgin waste generation during food production processes [ [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] ]. Consequently, per capita FW generation remains high in this group due to the persistence of suboptimal waste management practices.…”

Building a Hierarchical Enablers Framework for Service Business Model Innovation for Sustainable Performance: Evidence from Ghana’s Electricity Sector

“…Customer profiling also facilitates the establishment of social feedback channels that enable businesses to solicit customer opinions on the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives [71]. According to [72], retailers can utilize customer profiling data to offer feedback to their customers regarding their sustainability-related behavior, specifically on food waste, which was found to be a potential route for behavioral change. This approach allows businesses to remain responsive to evolving customer expectations and to adapt their sustainability strategies accordingly.…”