A comparison of online and in-store grocery shopping behaviour and its effects on household food waste

The rapid growth of online grocery shopping can have significant economic, social and environmental implications. However, the influence of changing consumer food acquisition practices on household food waste has received less attention in the literature. Moreover, there is a dearth of household studies that account for zero values of self-reported food waste. Using a large national-level dataset (n = 5272) and a robust zero-inflated ordered probit modelling approach, this paper compares the influence of online grocery shopping and in-store grocery shopping behaviours on household food waste. Findings indicate that there is a strong positive and statistically significant relationship between online grocery shopping and household food waste. More frequent grocery shopping and higher grocery spending are associated with generating greater household food waste. Formulating strategies to help consumers to minimise food waste at home could provide a strategic competitive advantage for retailers.

Automated summary

The impact of online grocery shopping on household food waste has been relatively understudied. This paper explores the relationship between online grocery shopping behaviors and household food waste using a large national dataset and statistical modeling. The findings show a strong positive correlation between online grocery shopping and food waste, with more frequent shopping and higher spending leading to greater waste.