Reducing household food waste can lower costs of living, according to latest research

Australian households can save thousands of dollars every year through simple measures to reduce their food waste' according to new research.

Led by CQUniversity researchers' the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (FFW CRC) project titled Designing effective interventions to reduce household food waste' was one of the most comprehensive of its kind ever conducted in Australia.

With Australia committed to halving its food waste by 2030' the project's findings have major implications for governments' industry and policy-makers.

CQUniversity Research Fellow and project co-author Dr Gamithri Karunasena said the project highlighted the increasing need for a major nationwide behaviour change campaign centred on helping consumers reduce the amount of food they waste.

'The report captures key findings from our research. These are based on analysis of data from 2800 Australian households and their behaviours around food waste'' Dr Karunasena said.

'This research paints the fullest picture yet of our current behaviours around food waste in the home and also points towards the simple steps that can be taken by Australians to begin to reduce their food waste'' she said.

CQUniversity Professor and project co-author David Pearson said the main thing learnt from the data was that Australians do waste a lot of food.

'It's equivalent to nearly $1000 per person' per year'' Professor Pearson said.

'All of us waste food' however we also know Australians do not want to waste food and now we know what to do to help them in that.'

Fight Food Waste CRC CEO Dr Steven Lapidge said acting to reduce food waste across Australian households was even more timely now' as the cost of living continued to rise.

'This research comes at a critical time. While it shows how much of a financial burden food waste can be for Australian households' it also identifies how we can reduce our food waste and save money'' Dr Lapidge said.

Food Waste in Australian Households: Evidence for Designing Interventions can be downloaded at: www.fightfoodwastecrc.com.au