Less food waste during corona crisis

A quarter of the households in the Netherlands said they wasted less food during the COVID-19 crisis than before. An online survey of 1,500 consumers, conducted by Wageningen Food & Biobased Research and the Dutch Nutrition Centre, shows this. In particular, fresh fruit and vegetables and meal scraps were more often saved from the waste bin. The data was collected between 8 and 17 May 2020.

Less waste...

About a quarter of the respondents wasted less food at home during the 'lockdown' than before the COVID-19 crisis.

Nearly 20% indicated to have become more aware of how much food is thrown away at home. Consumers also shopped less often than before: only 5% (12% before the COVID-19 crisis) went shopping every day, while 85% did so only two or three times a week at most. In addition, people were more systematic when buying, cooking and storing products. More than a quarter made a shopping list more often and almost a third were less tempted to buy on impulse. In addition, almost one in three stockpiled more, and almost one in five bought more long-life products and fresh fruit than before.  

... by more planning

Researcher Anke Janssen of Wageningen University: "This study confirms what we already knew from previous research: that a systematic approach to buying, cooking and storing food reduces waste. The COVID-19 measures may have led to a more systematic approach. In addition, we saw that more people had an overview of what was in the fridge, pantry and freezer. It also meant fewer unexpected events, such as spontaneous dinners outside the door - normally a major cause of food waste". 

Reduce waste structurally

The researchers hope that people will continue this positive behaviour and waste less food. Even now the corona measures have been relaxed.

wur.nl