Estimates suggest that globally more than 40% of the food that is produced for people goes to landfill, further adding to emissions of greenhouse gases (for example, CO2 and methane) already released during food production. In the UK, we could feed our entire population three meals a day for 11 weeks on the amount we waste in 1 year. Reductions in greenhouse gases could be made by changing current practices in farming, food manufacture and supply chains. All of these require changing people’s beliefs and behaviours. In this article, we look at ways that psychology can help with this mission.
Some people resist advice on ways to improve their health – they think that the disadvantages (costs) outweigh the advantages (benefits). Similar views affect the adaptations we need to make to reduce the problem of food waste. With health behaviours (for example, stopping smoking or doing more exercise) people are given information to tell them why such changes matter and how they can be achieved. But this is not enough – a lot of people still smoke or don’t exercise. What people need most is the motivation to change their behaviour.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
