UNVEILING FOOD WASTE HABITS: A PATHWAY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN RAWALPINDI AND ISLAMABAD

Abstract

Purpose: The current paper focuses on the food waste pattern in three distinct patterns, including birthday parties, marquees, and domestic consumption.

Methodology: A predetermined questionnaire was used to collect data from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A sample size was set to be 551 respondents from three distinct settings. To find the primary data, Google Forms were used for the survey method. To gain enriched data, the researcher has also conducted observational studies to analyze food consumption patterns and carried out in-depth interviews with selected respondents.

Findings: The findings of the study have provided valuable insights into how food waste patterns vary across distinct social contexts. In particular, there was higher food waste at birthday parties and marquees than at home. Further research could also be conducted to identify additional factors affecting food weight distribution and its implications for distinct settings to minimize food waste.

Implications for theory and practice: The current study makes a significant contribution to food waste management theory and the circular economy by identifying distinctive waste patterns across different social situations, providing a basis for developing effective waste reduction strategies. The study also made practical contributions, including optimizing food procurement, quantity control, and event planning to mitigate food waste in birthday parties, marquees, and domestic consumption, resulting in economic and environmental benefits.

Originality and value: It presents a strong research question, a transparent methodology, and a clear emphasis on real-world inferences, making it a valuable contribution to the field of food waste management in three distinct social contexts.

Key Words: Food waste, birthdays, marquees, domestic food consumption.