Modeling the relationships among the driving factors of food waste in Indonesian city

Abstract

Purpose: Food waste in cities has become a pressing issue not only in developed countries but also in developing countries like Indonesia. The main objectives of this study are to (1) identify the relationships among the driving factors of food waste in Indonesian cities by considering the perspective of food industry practitioners and academics and (2) model the relationships among the driving factors of food waste to reduce food waste in Indonesian cities.

Design/methodology/approach: The driving factors of food waste were selected from literature reviews and corroborated using in-depth interviews with practitioners and academics. A combination of three methods comprising (1) Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), (2) Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM), and Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliqué un Classement (MICMAC) were used to construct the hierarchical model the relationship among the driving factors of food waste based on their driving power and dependence power.

Findings: There are three key players in the food waste chain in urban areas in Indonesia: households, restaurants, supermarkets/markets. Fifteen driver factors on food waste based on the supplier-input-process-output-customer (SIPOC) framework were identified. The relationship among the driving factors of food waste was constructed in a hierarchical structure of food waste in Indonesian cities. With this, strategic action is formulated to reduce food waste.

Practical implications: The proposed model of the driving factors of food waste can inform the city government on how to manage food waste. Likewise, the findings can assist Indonesian households, restaurants, and markets/supermarkets in minimizing their food waste. The ISM approach's hierarchical structure allows practitioners to better identify the objectives for reducing food waste in Indonesian cities.

Originality/value: Previous studies have not examined and specifically modeled the relationships among the driving factors of food waste in Indonesian cities with three main players, i.e., households, restaurants, and supermarkets or traditional markets.