Reducing Food Waste : Factors Influencing the Successful Adoption of Food Waste Policies Among Food Retailers in the UK

Acknowledging the food waste problem among retailers in the United Kingdom, this research aims to understand the factors influencing the successful adoption of food waste management practices among retailers in the UK. Using qualitative research methods, this study explores the retailer's motivation to innovate food waste reduction initiatives, the challenges they encounter, and the assets available to them. Retailers in the UK were motivated to innovate food waste policies by environmental effects of food waste, targets set to reduce food waste and financial effects of food waste which have influenced them to work with other stakeholders and explore sustainability approaches. However, obstacles such as the impact of COVID-19 and corporate policies focused on making profits hindered the full adoption of these food waste reduction practices. Resources, including food waste programs, technology, and trained employees, were crucial in enabling the successful adoption of food waste management policies.This thesis aimed to inform policy decisions and offered policy recommendations to policy makers on how these factors could be leveraged to reduce and prevent food waste among retailers in the UK and worldwide.