A Survey of Students’ Awareness on Food Waste Problems and Their Behaviour Towards Food Wastage: a Case Study of Diponegoro University (UNDIP), Indonesia

Abstract

Worldwide about one-third of the food produces end up trashed or loss. Potential group said to waste more food include consumers of young age(youth). Higher learning institutions is hosting majority of this group. This study-based on the survey of 100 students at the University of Diponegoro in Semarang (Indonesia), aims at investigating student’s awareness on food waste problems and their behaviour towards food waste by deploying the framework of the Theory of planned behaviour. Structural model (PLS-SEM) approach applied to explore relationship between individual awareness, attitudes, concern, Norms, Intention and behaviour towards food waste. The important of performance map analysis developed to enable observation of important dimensions which influence correct behaviour towards food waste. Results confirm the importance of using extended model of planned behaviour. Student awareness on environmental and social, economic consequences of food waste, and perceived behaviour control were the main drivers to motivate student’s intention to avoid or reduce food waste, while positive behaviour towards food waste were found to be determined by Subjective norms, concern on food waste and perceived behaviour control. Finally, the study implication for raising student’s awareness on food waste problem and its impacts, and improving correct behaviour toward food waste are discussed.