Fostering food waste reduction through food practice temporalities

Overview & Synopsis

This article examines how recommendations for preventing food waste are implemented, based on the practice theories framework and more specifically on Southerton’s framework in which practices are performed according to temporal dispositions (What practice to carry out at a given time and how culturally derived orientations influence the allocation of practice over time?), temporal procedures (When to carry out this practice and its expected temporal demand?) and temporal sequences (How does the material and infrastructural environment affect this practice at this time?). This work is based on a two-step qualitative study combining a projective method coupled with semi-directive interviews with 23 participants, and observations with 11 of these 23 participants which helps identifying the temporalities and actions involved in implementing recommendations to reduce food waste at home. Results also lead to a complementary step based on the evaluation of a device (a “leftovers zone” in the fridge) by a group of 10 consumers. This article contributes to understanding the temporalities of daily food practices to reduce FW.