Psychological drivers and strategic interventions for reducing consumer food waste: a literature-based perspective

Food waste poses a major global challenge, with environmental, economic, and social consequences. Consumers, within household settings, have been identified as key contributors to food waste, shifting the focus toward the psychosocial drivers of individual behavior. This chapter examines the underlying mechanisms of consumer food waste, offering a structured literature review rather than new empirical data. The discussion explores cognitive determinants such as knowledge, attitudes, and intentions; the influence of non-rational factors including habits and emotions; and behavioral patterns across stages of household food management. Beyond identifying these drivers, the chapter reviews intervention strategies aimed at reducing food waste, from individual-level behavioral nudges to policy-level responses, with particular reference to recent OECD initiatives. By synthesizing current knowledge, the chapter provides a foundation for developing more effective, context-sensitive interventions and informs future research and policy design in the field of sustainable food consumption.