The issue of food waste has become a political priority in many developed countries. Statistics show that a total of 68,000 tonnes is generated by primary schools in England and 28,000 tonnes by secondary schools, giving a total food waste weight of 96,000 tonnes per annual. This project seeks to understand children’s responses to food waste in school by exploring their views on food waste and empowering them to discuss and develop their own solutions.
Children’s responses to food waste in school
Using qualitative data analysis, looking at children's photos and their narratives, our findings revealed that children displayed negative emotions concerning food waste and responded positively to the possibility of food recycling.
Children displayed a competent understanding of the challenges of managing lunches in the school setting and reducing food waste. Their solutions to reduce food waste will require multiple stakeholder engagement, including self-regulation, peer-monitoring, teacher supervision and family support. However, rather than relying on intervention schemes that require significant adult involvement, children placed a heavy emphasis on self-regulation, playing an active role in addressing food waste in school.
The project did not come without limitations:
- The teachers did not measure food served and food waste per plate, therefore it was difficult to calculate the waste produced by each child.
- the older children (school year 3 and 4) could access the salad bar freely, but it was not clear how it was served per plate; hence it was difficult to calculate what percentage of the food has been wasted by each child.
- The sample group’s food waste was mixed with other children’s waste in the food waste bin, so it was impossible to measure any significant difference between the sample group and the others.
- The food quality served at the school did vary on a daily basis and had an impact on the amount of food waste. The headteacher reported that when the school chef accidentally burned the roast potatoes, the potatoes were discarded by children.
While the weight of the total school lunchtime food waste did not decrease over time, from February to July 2019, considering such a well-structured and complex view that participants were able to offer, we suggest that children (not only adults) should be considered as relevant stakeholders in evaluating the organisation and management of lunches at school.
Publications
Yen, D., Dovey, T. and Cappellini, B., 2022.
How we conducted our research
Using creative problem-solving approach and photo voice technique, we conducted focus group discussions with 28 primary school children in the UK. To explore children’s understanding of food waste and facilitate the creative problem-solving approach, a school lunch-time scenario was developed, with the support of the primary school teachers, to ensure that it was applicable to children in their school setting. The twenty-eight children were placed into four groups of approximately seven children. Each FGD group lasted around an average of 45 minutes in length. The FGDs were facilitated by one of the authors, who have obtained valid DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check prior to the interviews.
At the end of the first FGDs, each child was given a disposable camera with 28 films to take home. The authors encouraged the children to take photos of food waste problems and solutions that they noticed over the next two weeks, both at school and at home. The children were also informed that the subsequent FGDs would be centred on their photos. Children were asked to return their cameras after two weeks and their films were developed into prints by the research team, ready for the second FGDs.
The second FGDs were centred on the discussion of the photos in relation to emotion and moved onto the identification of behavioural controls from the children’s perspective that could help prevent food waste. Children were given their picture prints and told to select three of their favourite photos to share with the group.
Children's suggestions on tackling school waste
Meet the Principal Investigator(s) for the project
Dorothy Yen - Professor Dorothy A. Yen is a Professor in Marketing.
Leading the Marketing Division at 童颜视频 Business School, 童颜视频, I take a consumer-centric approach to understand and discuss marketing, branding, and tourism matters. I study how culture affects human behaviour, in both B2B and B2C domains. In particualr, I looks at cross-cultural business relationships, with a particular focus on understanding how cultural-specific factors affect business relationships and collaborations. I also study consumer acculturation, tourist, sojourners and migrants' consumption practices as well as social media activities in relation to their cultural identity.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, I explored how migrants in the UK attempted to cope with the life-threatening disease while dealing with institutional uncertainty and a hostile host environment. My proposal on branding Wales as the land of dragons and legends triggered numerous discussions and debates, following my giving evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee and interview by BBC Radio Wales.
I am a member of the Marketing and Corporate Brand Research Group at 童颜视频 Business School and the research centre of Substantiality and Entrepreneurship.
I run office hours on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm. Students can also email me to book an appointment at a mutually convenient time. This can be either on campus or via Microsoft TEAM upon mutual agreement.
Related Research Group(s)
Global Lives - Research conducted in the Centre addresses the challenges facing society, helping to change the lives of people around the world by bringing economic, social and cultural benefits.
Entrepreneurship and Sustainability - Our focus is on how individuals, businesses and societies can tap into creative and entrepreneurial flair to develop innovative solutions, in order to not only create economic value, but also solve social and environmental problems.
Partnering with confidence
Organisations interested in our research can partner with us with confidence backed by an external and independent benchmark: The Knowledge Exchange Framework. Read more.
Project last modified 12/10/2023