Can Countertop Caddies Prevent Wasted Food?

A study conducted by WRAP, a waste reduction nonprofit in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with behavior change researchers SKIM, explored the effectiveness of kitchen countertop food scrap caddies in reducing food waste. The research found that using these caddies can lead to lower household costs and increased mindfulness about food waste. However, the study also revealed that many users were unclear about the compostability of caddy liners, and the lack of robust liners was associated with low rates of caddy usage. To address this, WRAP recommends regular communication campaigns and visual cues on caddies to maintain awareness of food waste. The study also identified four key opportunities to reduce food waste through the caddy system and beyond, including boosting saliency among users, connecting food waste to the cost-of-living crisis, nudging consumers throughout the food waste management process, and providing regular feedback on the impact of food waste recycling. Overall, a multi-faceted approach combining individual actions, education, retail sector changes, community initiatives, and targeted incentives is likely to be most effective in reducing household food waste. [Extracted from the article]