Factors influencing food waste behavior: A study on college students in Medan City, Indonesia

One of the world’s environmental problems is food waste. This problem is closely related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the goal on sustainable production and consumption. Food waste affects not only environmental aspects but also the social and economic aspects, it is often...

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Main Authors: Dian Retno Intan, Khairul Fahmi Purba, Nana Trisna Mei Br Kabeakan, Wildani Lubis, Tifany Zia Aznur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centre for Science and Technology, IAIN Surakarta 2025-08-01
Series:Sustinere: Journal of Environment and Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sustinerejes.com/index.php/a/article/view/462
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author Dian Retno Intan
Khairul Fahmi Purba
Nana Trisna Mei Br Kabeakan
Wildani Lubis
Tifany Zia Aznur
author_facet Dian Retno Intan
Khairul Fahmi Purba
Nana Trisna Mei Br Kabeakan
Wildani Lubis
Tifany Zia Aznur
author_sort Dian Retno Intan
collection DOAJ
description One of the world’s environmental problems is food waste. This problem is closely related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the goal on sustainable production and consumption. Food waste affects not only environmental aspects but also the social and economic aspects, it is often driven by individual behavior. This study aims to calculate the percentage of food waste based on nutrition classification and to analyze factors influencing the food waste behavior. A survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 134 college students. The variables examined included socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Binary logistic regression was applied for data analysis. This results show carbohydrates-rich foods such as rice, noodles and bread were the most commonly wasted items among college students in Medan. Furthermore, the factors influencing food waste behavior were dining out behavior, promotions or discounts, food expenditure, diet programs and eating frequency. Taking leftovers home and reheating them were the most common practices used by students to reduce food waste. In addition, the government should formulate policies and regulations on food waste management to help reduce food waste in Medan City.
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Centre for Science and Technology, IAIN Surakarta
record_format Article
series Sustinere: Journal of Environment and Sustainability
spelling doaj-art-87538ac5ffbe4e52ac71ba170fbe6bb52025-08-23T23:10:05ZengCentre for Science and Technology, IAIN SurakartaSustinere: Journal of Environment and Sustainability2549-12452549-12532025-08-019210.22515/sustinere.jes.v9i2.462Factors influencing food waste behavior: A study on college students in Medan City, IndonesiaDian Retno Intan0Khairul Fahmi Purba1Nana Trisna Mei Br Kabeakan2Wildani Lubis3Tifany Zia Aznur4Dept. of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Medan, IndonesiaDept. of Agricultural Socioeconomics, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sriwijaya, Indralaya, IndonesiaDept. of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Medan, IndonesiaDept. of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Medan, IndonesiaDept. of Agribusiness, Faculty of Science & Technology, Institut Teknologi Sawit Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia One of the world’s environmental problems is food waste. This problem is closely related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the goal on sustainable production and consumption. Food waste affects not only environmental aspects but also the social and economic aspects, it is often driven by individual behavior. This study aims to calculate the percentage of food waste based on nutrition classification and to analyze factors influencing the food waste behavior. A survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 134 college students. The variables examined included socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Binary logistic regression was applied for data analysis. This results show carbohydrates-rich foods such as rice, noodles and bread were the most commonly wasted items among college students in Medan. Furthermore, the factors influencing food waste behavior were dining out behavior, promotions or discounts, food expenditure, diet programs and eating frequency. Taking leftovers home and reheating them were the most common practices used by students to reduce food waste. In addition, the government should formulate policies and regulations on food waste management to help reduce food waste in Medan City. https://sustinerejes.com/index.php/a/article/view/462responsible consumptionsustainabilitysustainable developmentwaste management
spellingShingle Dian Retno Intan
Khairul Fahmi Purba
Nana Trisna Mei Br Kabeakan
Wildani Lubis
Tifany Zia Aznur
Factors influencing food waste behavior: A study on college students in Medan City, Indonesia
Sustinere: Journal of Environment and Sustainability
responsible consumption
sustainability
sustainable development
waste management
title Factors influencing food waste behavior: A study on college students in Medan City, Indonesia
title_full Factors influencing food waste behavior: A study on college students in Medan City, Indonesia
title_fullStr Factors influencing food waste behavior: A study on college students in Medan City, Indonesia
title_full_unstemmed Factors influencing food waste behavior: A study on college students in Medan City, Indonesia
title_short Factors influencing food waste behavior: A study on college students in Medan City, Indonesia
title_sort factors influencing food waste behavior a study on college students in medan city indonesia
topic responsible consumption
sustainability
sustainable development
waste management
url https://sustinerejes.com/index.php/a/article/view/462
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