A theory-based evaluation of food waste policy: Evidence from Italy |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China;2. Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom;1. Department of Agri-food science and technology, University of Bologna, Bologna 40127, Italy;2. Department of Political Science, Law and International Studies, University of Padua, Padova 35123, Italy;3. Association “Amici dei Boschi APS”, via Morazzone 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy;4. Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK;5. Romagnosi Foundation, Corso Strada Nuova 65, 27100 Pavia (Università degli Studi di Pavia) |
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| Abstract: | Italy recently reformed its food waste policy by introducing innovative measures, such as the possibility of donating food after the best-before date (BBD) and a significant simplification of the bureaucracy of donations. These measures are advocated by food waste specialists and are thought to increase donations almost automatically. The article performs a theory-based evaluation using the method of realist synthesis to investigate the two measures, test their implicit assumptions, and provide a more complete picture of how the policy works. The results highlight the marginal importance of bureaucratic procedures in the cost structure of donations, the diverse responses of different donors and food rescue organisations, and the importance of considering the capacity and preferences of charities when an increase in donations is expected. Further, the analysis uncovers severe reputational risks that limit both the supply of and demand for food past the BBD, despite legal provisions promoting its donation. |
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| Keywords: | Food donation Food waste Food loss Realist synthesis Theory-based evaluation |
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