Representative survey of practices to reduce food waste in German households
- 02.12.2025
- English Articles
- Vera Lange
- Jasmin Godemann
Peer reviewed / Manuscript (overview) submitted: 20 January 2025; revision accepted: 25 April 2025
Introduction
The generation of food waste is a problem that occurs along the entire food supply chain with far-reaching ecological, social, and economic consequences. Private households, in particular, account for a large proportion (52%) of the total amount of food waste in Germany [1]. Given the scale of this issue, reducing domestic food waste is essential. Against this background, practices to reduce food waste such as meal planning, systematic storage, and dealing with leftover food are discussed in the literature as possible solutions [2, 3]. These practices are taken up and communicated in public, media, and political spheres by various initiatives. German campaigns such as Zu gut für die Tonne (BLE) aim to raise awareness of the issue and support consumers in reducing food waste by providing practical tips and advice. The focus is specifically on providing information on how to encourage the adoption of practices that will alleviate food waste [1].
Despite these developments, the amount of discarded food in German households remains excessive [1], indicating a need for further improvements. Because of this, questions arise as to the extent to which these media-communicated practices for reducing food waste are already integrated into everyday life, how widespread they are in German households, and how these practices are shaped. ...
Abstract
Against the backdrop of the global food waste problem, practices such as storing and reusing leftover food are being forwarded as possible solutions. However, little is currently known about how widespread these practices are in German households. Therefore, this study investigates the extent to which these practices are integrated in Germany. Drawing on practice theory, a quantitative questionnaire was developed to assess the prevalence of food waste reduction practices in everyday German domestic life. The representative online survey was conducted with 2,172 participants in December 2022. Overall, respondents reported that they regularly use practices to reduce food waste and feel very competent in doing so. Notably, the influence of situational circumstances was cited as an obstacle. The data indicate that practices to reduce food waste are reproduced as socially accepted knowledge. However, they are not implemented in routine actions, as indicated by the figures for food waste remaining high. This suggests that in the future, the focus should not only be on the further dissemination of knowledge in this area; rather, the dynamics of practices and the underlying social norms that impact upon them must be taken into account.
