• A survey (n = 1216) analyzed food waste behaviour in Bangladesh. • Awareness affects attitudes but not direct sustainable consumption. • Higher-income groups waste more food, with a significant correlation (p 50,000/month) waste approximately 32% more food than lower-income groups, while 47% of respondents discard food based on appearance and 39% misinterpret expiry labels, underscoring behavioral and cognitive challenges beyond awareness. The findings underscore the importance of targeted awareness strategies, standardized food labeling practices, and supportive regulatory frameworks. Drawing on global best practices, policy recommendations include food-donation legislation, strengthened supermarket standards, and waste-to-energy initiatives. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers, businesses, and consumers, advancing the limited empirical literature on food waste behavior in Bangladesh and similar emerging economy contexts.
Haque et al. (Sun,) studied this question.