Food Waste Problem in the UK: Analysis and Recommendations Report

This report investigates the pervasive issue of food waste in the UK, employing a mixed-methods approach. The study commences with an introduction highlighting the global significance of food waste and the strategies employed to mitigate it, specifically focusing on the UK context. Qualitative data, gathered through interviews with managers from Kennan Recycling Ltd and Rubbish Facts, explores perceptions on the sources of food waste, organizational initiatives for waste management, challenges faced, and a comparative analysis of the UK's performance against other countries. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts reveals key themes related to the origins of food waste (households, farms, restaurants), waste management strategies (audits, advanced technologies), challenges (climate change, energy efficiency), and the UK's relatively better performance compared to the US. Quantitative data, derived from a questionnaire administered to employees of Kennan Recycling Ltd, provides numerical insights into the problem. Thematic analysis of the survey data, presented through tables and graphs, examines the increasing trend of food waste in the UK, the areas contributing the most waste (urban areas), the types of waste generated (wet and dry), the perceived root causes of food waste (over-purchasing, over-preparation), the impact on climate change, individual actions to reduce waste, organizational compliance with regulations, and the food waste management strategies employed by the company (anaerobic composting, incineration). The report uses statistical analysis to determine the relationship between variables. Overall, the report offers a comprehensive analysis of food waste in the UK, combining qualitative and quantitative data to understand the complexities of the problem and suggest potential solutions.

Food Waste problem

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Qualitative data ..........................................................................................................................1
Quantitative data.........................................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................27
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................28
Appendix........................................................................................................................................29
Interview...................................................................................................................................29
Questionnaire............................................................................................................................30

INTRODUCTION
Food waste is the biggest problem across entire world and countries are also introducing range of strategies in order to
minimize the same. In the same way, current study will help to identify the views of people with regards to food wastage. Thus, the
study is completely based upon primary study in which both qualitative and quantitative data are analyzed and examine the issues and
ways of food waste problem.
Qualitative data
This type of research involves analyzing the non-numeric data that assist to understand the concepts, opinions and experiences.
Also, it is used to gather in-depth insights into a problem and as a result generate new ideas as well ( Qualitative and quantitative
research, 2020). For the present study, interview is conducted in which 1 managers of Kennan recycling Ltd and 1 manager of
Rubbish facts has been selected. Also, with the help of their views the problem of food wastage is identified, the interpretation of the
transcript is as mentioned below:
Theme 1: food come from different areas in UK
By conducting an interview, it is analyzed from both interviewees that they do not have an accurate idea but, most of the waste
is come from household sides and farm areas. Whereas, another interviewee said that food wastage is dump by restaurants, farms and
household. Therefore, majority of them stated that waste food is dumped by household areas in which dry and wet waste is thrown by
people.
Theme 2: Initiatives took by organization to food waste management
Both organization took different initiatives in order to manage the food such that Manager of Kennan stated that the conduct
audit at regular basis and also uses advance technology i.e. in-vessel composting. On the other side, Manager of Rubbish Facts stated
that it uses the same technology and properly composed the entire food waste in order to reuse the food material as well.
Theme 3: Challenges face by company with regards to food waste management
1

As food waste is consider the biggest problem, that is why, most of the organizations faces many challenges such that climatic
changes and fresh water are considered the biggest challenges to manage the food. Whereas, interviewee of Rubbish Facts state that
energy efficiency is considered the biggest challenge for an organization.
Theme 4: Comparison of UK with other countries in term of food waste
Though the percentage of food waste is increases from last year but there are many agencies and organization who
continuously took initiatives in order to manage the food. Thus, by comparing the standards of UK with other countries, it is identified
from interviewees that UK's system is far better than US because people are more focused upon the food waste problem and ensure
that minimum food is wastage by them. This in turn helps to minimize the problem up to some level.
Quantitative data
It is the process which helps to collect and analysed the data in numerical format. With the help of this type, average pattern
and relationship is identified which in turn assist to identify the causes of food wastage problem. For this, questionnaire is designed
under survey method in which relevant questions are asked to 10 employees of Kennan Recycling Ltd. Further with the help of SPSS
software, views of selected respondents are analysed that helps to conduct in depth research upon the chosen topic.
Thematic analysis
With the help of thematic data analysis method, different themes are designed by referring the questionnaire. In this, relevant
graphs and tables are presented which helps to interpret the respondent’s views in better manner. This in turn assist to reflect entire
findings in better manner that helps to identify the issue i.e. food waste problem.
Gender
Frequency Percent
Male 8 80.0
Female 2 20.0
2

Total 10 100.0
Interpretation: Through the above, it is interpreted that there are 8 males and 2 females from the total selected participants.
3

Age
Frequency Percent
22-26 2 20.0
26-50 7 70.0
50 above 1 10.0
Total 10 100.0
4

Interpretation: From the above table it is interpreted that the selected participants age is fall under 26 to 50. whereas, only 2
of them stated that they fall under 21 to 26 and 1 of them stated their age is above than 50.
5

Theme 1: Food waste problem in UK increases
Frequency Percent
Yes 7 70.0
No 2 20.0
Don't know 1 10.0
Total 10 100.0
6

Interpretation: the above graph exhibits that majority of the people stated yes, the fast waste food problem is increases from
last many years in UK. Such that out of 10, 7 stated yes and 2 stated no. Thus, it is analysed by statistics from Waste and Resources
7

Action Program that household food waste in increases by 4.4% in UK from last many years and this in turn increase the problem in
UK as well.
Theme 2: Areas that dumps more food
Frequency Percent
Rural 2 20.0
Urban 6 60.0
Both 2 20.0
Total 10 100.0
8

Interpretation: By conducting the secondary research it is interpreted that urban area's people brings more food waste as
compared to others. Such that out of 100% 60% of them stated yes and only 20% stated that rural people dumps waste food.
Therefore, it is clearly reflected that there are many sources through which food waste increases i.e. storage, packaging and household
9

waste etc. This in turn increases the problem in country and waste food happen during events when food is prepared in large quantity.
Hence, it is increases among urban areas only because of many events taken place.
Theme 3: Type of waste dump by people
Frequency Percent
Wet waste 4 40.0
Dry waste 4 40.0
hazardous waste 1 10.0
biomedical waste 1 10.0
Total 10 100.0
10