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Vassar College

Publication Date

Fall 2023

Program Name

Australia: Sustainability and Environmental Action

Abstract

This research paper aims to understand the presence of sustainable food waste management in food retail businesses, as well as the importance of food donation to the success of food insecurity remediation organizations in the city of Melbourne, Victoria. Intensive in-person, online, and over-the-phone interviews were conducted in two categories: food retail businesses (subcategories being supermarkets and restaurants) and food insecurity remediation organizations. Of the 133 businesses contacted, 16 food service businesses were interviewed, and three food insecurity remediation organizations were interviewed. A survey was utilized for food retail businesses that received a single response in the supermarket subcategory; data from the survey was incorporated into key findings from interviews as the response size was incredibly minuscule. It was uncovered that there is a significant presence of sustainable strategies utilized in food service businesses in both mitigation and remediation of food waste produced. It was also found that there is a presence, albeit limited, of the food waste management practice of food donation. Results cement that the practice of donating food waste is imperative to the success of food insecurity remediation organizations. Further study is required to determine the ease of creating relationships between food insecurity remediation organizations and food retail businesses participating in food donation.

Disciplines

Food and Beverage Management | Food Security | Food Studies | Nonprofit Administration and Management | Social Welfare

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