HOUSEHOLD FOOD WASTE: CAUSES AND REDUCTION STRATEGIES IN TAURAGĖ COUNTY

Abstract

This article investigates the drivers and manifestations of household food waste, reviews prevailing methodological approaches in food waste research, and presents the design and outcomes of an empirical case study. The analysis demonstrates that food waste most often results from excessive purchasing, insufficient meal planning, and limited attention to product expiration dates. While respondents acknowledged the significance of the issue, they nevertheless continued to encounter leftover or expired food in everyday practice. Mitigation strategies identified in the study highlight the importance of education starting from early schooling, the establishment of food-sharing initiatives, and adjustments in retail practices such as broader availability of products sold by weight. Although the empirical evidence derives from households in Tauragė County, Lithuania, the findings reflect broader patterns observable in many contexts and underscore the need for strengthening both consumer awareness and systemic measures to reduce food waste globally.