Addressing plate waste and consumption practice at university canteens: realizing green university through citizen-consumers
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 23 June 2021
Issue publication date: 28 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore ways to minimize plate waste at university canteens by studying plate waste and consumers at three main canteens of a university, Thailand.
Design/methodology/approach
Using university canteens in Thailand as a case, plate waste was characterized and quantified and consumers’ insights concerning food consumption practices were examined through focus group discussion.
Findings
The results revealed that each consumer wasted edible food around 19 grams/meal. The generation of plate waste is affected by the food provision system, including canteen setting, food purchasing procedure and food quality. In addition, the presence of stray dogs in the canteens inhibited consumers from finishing up their food. Thus, improving the food provision system is crucial to engage consumers in achieving zero plate waste.
Originality/value
This research sheds some light on ways to engage consumers in sustainable consumption and contributes to the knowledge on plate waste and sustainable consumption in university settings. Improving food quality and canteen settings are of importance to better engage consumers. In addition, this research revealed that concepts of system of provision and citizen-consumers are practical to analyze sustainable transformations for green university initiatives.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the Property and Concession Management Office of UBU and all informants participating in this research. Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Disclosure statement: The authors do not have competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Ethical clearance: Ethics approval was obtained from the Committee for Research Ethics in Human, Ubon Rachathani University, Certificate of Approval No. UBU – REC – 34/2563, dated July 8, 2020.
Citation
Thongplew, N., Duangput, N. and Khodkham, S. (2021), "Addressing plate waste and consumption practice at university canteens: realizing green university through citizen-consumers", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 22 No. 7, pp. 1691-1706. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-02-2021-0056
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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