Over Half of Dutch Households Throw Away Food Every Week

15 Oct 2015 --- Thirty percent of the Dutch population throws away food or drinks at least several times a week. This has been revealed by an independent survey commissioned by Rabobank and conducted by market research agency GfK. Under-thirties and families throw away the most food.

The respondents say they often throw away food unconsciously and note that they find it difficult to change their behaviour. They also report that their partners are picky when it comes to eating leftover food. Seventy percent of those surveyed say they are prepared to change their own behaviour. A number of practical solutions to this issue also emerged from the survey.

Consumers put forward the following solutions for reducing food waste:
•    Higher grocery prices. Consumers would shop more consciously and would freeze food more often if the prices of food and drinks were to go up. Ten percent of those surveyed also admit that they throw food away because they can afford to financially. 
•    Have producers offer smaller portions and packaging. Forty percent of the respondents say this would have the greatest effect. 
•    Better information on the best-before date. One-quarter of Dutch consumers say they throw food away if it is past its best-before date. 

Ruud Huirne, Director of Food & Agri Netherlands at Rabobank, responds to the survey results: “Consumers play the leading role in preventing food waste. They sense this responsibility and want to accept it. And that’s excellent, but it’s not enough. Food is unnecessarily wasted across every link of the chain – from farmer and grower to our plate. Businesses in the food and agri sector have a responsibility to fight food waste. By each of us doing our own part according to our own role, we can together make the difference in resolving the global food issue.”

While the majority of Dutch consumers regularly throw away food, seventy percent of Dutch households are planning to improve their behaviour. Higher grocery prices would motivate twelve percent of Dutch households to throw away less food. They would also shop more consciously and freeze food more often. Ten percent of those surveyed admit throwing away food because they feel they can afford to financially. 

While the majority of the respondents believe they as consumers are responsible for fighting food waste, they do think food producers and supermarkets could help. The most frequently stated solutions in the survey are: offering smaller portions and packaging sizes, giving additional discounts on products that have almost reached their best-before date and better storage solutions. One-third of Dutch consumers would be willing to pay more for packaged food if it had a longer shelf life, even if this would cause food prices to go up. 

In order to enable Dutch consumers to approach food more consciously, it is important to provide them with better information on what the best-before date on products actually means. The research study reveals that one-quarter of Dutch consumers say they throw away food and drinks once they are past the best-before date. And this percentage is even higher among young people, with more than one out of three throwing away food if the best-before date has passed. An explanation of the difference between the ‘best-before date’ and the ‘use-by date’ could be beneficial because many products are perfectly fine for consumption after the best-before date. 

Four out of five Dutch consumers have learned as children that they should not throw away food and drinks. This may be the reason why most Dutch households already try to approach food more sustainably. For example, 71 of Dutch households say they freeze food, such as bread, and only defrost it when it’s needed. Two out of three households try to store food in the correct place, such as in the refrigerator, freezer or a dark cupboard. And 60 percent say they check the pantry before going to the supermarket.