Exploring sociocultural barriers and behavioural insights to food waste management in Kuwait: A survey-based roadmap for sustainability

Kuwait faces a significant challenge in managing food waste, with over 90% of municipal solid waste being disposed of in landfills, which contributes to environmental degradation and public health risks. This study investigates the sociocultural and psychological barriers to implementing sustainable food waste management in Kuwait and proposes targeted policy recommendations. A comprehensive national survey of 5000 participants was conducted to assess public perceptions of food waste management and the influence of gender, age, and occupational background. Among its findings, the survey revealed that 70.3% of respondents were willing to apply waste sorting methods at home. However, 38.2% remained unaware of the health impacts of food waste, and 35.4% were pessimistic about progress by 2035. Key barriers identified include a lack of public awareness (28%), insufficient infrastructure (23%), and sociocultural norms that shape gendered patterns in food waste management. Younger individuals and professionals in the education and medical sectors were found to be more environmentally conscious, offering a demographic entry point for intervention. The study proposes a three-tiered policy framework: short-term awareness campaigns and benchmarking, medium-term economic incentives and stakeholder engagement, and long-term legislative reform, infrastructure development, and waste-to-energy initiatives aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035.