The Role of Systems Thinking in Developing Solutions for Sustainability Challenges: A Case Study of Household Food Waste in Australia

RUNNING HEAD: Sustainability
Sustainability

Sustainability 1
Introduction
Systems thinking can be defined as an approach to integration that works on the basis of belief
that the performance of the component parts of system will significantly differ when they will be
separated from the other parts of the system or system’s environment (Gharajedaghi, 2011).
Systems are viewed in a holistic manner by systems thinking. Set of separate parts that are
interrelated with each other for working towards the achievement of common goal is known as
system. This essay favors the argument that system thinking is critical in developing solution for
sustainability challenges. In this essay, the applicability of systems thinking is discussed in
dealing with the problem of household food waste. The problem of household food waste is
being faced by both developed and developing countries and is increasing at a rapid pace. Since
there is no specific solution to the problem of household food waste, it is considered a wicked
problem. Wicked or complex problem situations can be effectively addressed with the help of
systems thinking.
Systems thinking is critical in developing solutions to sustainability challenges
The solutions to sustainability challenges can be effectively developed with the help of systems
thinking. This is due to the fact that this approach provides a macroscopic view to things
(Boardman & Sauser, 2008). However, the traditional thinking approach and systems thinking
approach are different from each other. The focus of traditional analysis approach is on the
subject matter of study. On the other hand, the focus of systems thinking approach is on the
inter-relationship between the various constituents of system. With the rapid industrialization
and gloablization, several complexities will be faced in the upcoming years. Such comlex
problems will be effectively dealt with the help of systems thinking. An essential application of
this approach is system test which has three important Parts namely purpose, elements and
functions (Xu, L., Marinova & Guo, 2015).
System thinking focus on the manner in which the constituents of the system interact with one
another. Complex problems experienced by the society can be solved due to the nature of system
thinking (Arnold & Wade, 2015). Sustainability challenges are also known as adaptive
challenges due to the fact that procedures and proticols that have already established cannot be

Sustainability 2
applied to such suituations. Moreover, there is no cohesive approach or procedure for dealing
with most wicked challeges of sustainability (Hester & Adams, 2014).
The Problem of Household Food Waste
The problem of household food waste is a wicked problem. The data suggests that there is total
wastage of 4 million tonnes of food every year in Australia. Out of this, business food wastage is
equivalent to 1.38 million tonnes and household food wastage is 2.6 million tonnes. Every year 4
million tonnes of household food is sent by the Australians to landfill. It is $8 billion worth of
leftovers, fresh food, long- life and packaged products, takeaways and frozen food. Average
household bin consists of food up to 40%. Taking into consideration an average Australian
household, it means food of worth $1000 is thrown away each year. Such food is sufficient for
feeding an average household for entire month. Moreover, 20% of the food purchased by
Australians is discarded. It is equal to 1 bag out of every 5 bags of groceries (Food Wise, 2012).
The environment is severely impacted by food wastage. When there is decay of food in the
landfill without air, a greenhouse gas called methane is given off which is 25 times more carbon
dioxide that emanates out of the exhaust of a car. An estimated 20- 40% of the vegetables and
fruits are disallowed before reaching the shop shelves due to the reason of their inability to meet
the high – cosmetic standards required by the customers and supermarkets (Food Wise, 2012).
Food wastage can be classified into three categories: preventable food wastage (food that can be
consumed), possibly preventable food wastage (food that can be consumed but is generally not
consumed such as pumpkin skin) and unavoidable food wastage (food products that cannot be
consumed). Households in Australia throw out sufficient food each year to fill more than
450,000 garbage trucks. The production of food is done by making the use of approximately
one- third of the agricultural land of the world that is subsequently not eaten. Resources such as
fuel, water and fertilizers utilized for the purpose of growing that food are also therefore wasted.
The volume of food wastage needs to be significantly decreased for the purpose of sustaining the
limited resources of the world and for securing sufficient food to all humans. The reasons
provided by consumers for food wastage include buying in greater quantities, purchasing wrong
thing, large packages, broken/ bad package, passing of best before date, etc. Food wastage also
occurs due to preparing food in large quantities, preparation of food that do not taste well, non-