Food Waste and Climate Change: Does the Public Get It?
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Gigantic Idea Studio presented results from a 2023 survey on Californians' understanding of the connection of food waste (via methane emissions in landfill) to the climate crisis.
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Food Waste and Climate Change: Does the Public Get It?
- 1. FoodWaste & Climate Change Does the Public Get It? Nancy Roberts Senior Associate CRRA August 2023
- 2. “Cutting methane is the strongest lever we have to slow climate change over the next 25 years.” —Inger Andersen UNEP Executive Director
- 4. Is Climate Change Real? Do you agree that human-caused climate change (sometimes called global warming) is happening? YES NO NOT SURE 84% 8% 8%
- 5. 2020 vs 2023: Is Climate Change Real? “Yes” responses up by 4 percentage points: •80% in 2020 •84% in 2023
- 6. “It’s a hoax.” “The more scientists know, the worse it looks plus the deniers are more entrenched and thoughtless.” “WOW. Progressing so quickly. Look around; live day to day, can't miss all the signs. Let's go, let's go. Let's do something.” “So much is being lost.”
- 7. How Worried Are You about the effects of climate change? Not at all A little Somewhat Very Extremely 10% 17% 25% 32% 18%
- 8. More Worried Less Worried The Same 46% 9% 45% Climate Change Concern Is your level of worry about climate change different from a year ago? More Worried 46%
- 9. Eco Anxiety Latinx and young respondents are more likely to be more worried (51%)
- 10. In the last 3 years, has your behavior with regard to food waste changed? I buy less and eat leftovers more often to reduce food waste 38% I have started to collect food scraps in my household for composting 28% I understand the problem of food waste better but have not made any changes yet. 28% I have not made any changes 24% I already composted food scraps and minimized food waste 3 years ago 18%
- 11. Understanding Landfills Which of the following statements best matches your understanding of what happens to food in a landfill? Breaks down, gives off methane Breaks down, turns into compost to grow food NOT SURE Stays in landfill forever, unchanged Breaks down, gives off oxygen 33% 24% 21% 13% 9%
- 12. Bay Area 38% SoCal 30% Sac 29% Who Gets It About Methane?
- 13. 2023 Latinx respondents showing greater uncertainty 22% (down from 29%) of respondents understood that food scraps break down and release methane in landfill. 25% (unchanged) of respondents think that food is broken down into compost to grow food. 31% (up from 19%!) are not sure
- 14. Which of the reasons below for reducing food waste are the most important to you? Reducing food waste saves me money Reducing food waste fights climate change Reducing food waste is the right thing to do Turning discarded food into compost helps grow new food Reducing food waste helps feed hungry people Reducing food waste saves landfill space Using up the food I have saves time Reducing food waste honors God’s creation Reducing food waste reduces greenhouse gases
- 15. Right thing to do 45% Saves me money 38% Compost helps grow new food 35% Reduces fights climate change 32% Helps feed hungry people 30% Saves landfill space 30% Reduces greenhouse gases 29% Honors God’s creation 18% Using up the food I have saves time 17%
- 16. Does your waste/garbage service offer food scrap collection separate from garbage? Yes, food scraps are collected separately No, food scraps go in the garbage I don’t have food scraps collection service I don’t know 47% 28% 16% 8%
- 17. Food waste in landfills is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. What would best help you reduce the most food waste in your home? Ability to buy the amount I need, not what comes in the package. 32% More time to plan meals 18% Help from family members 15% Smaller takeout portions 13% More/better information about expiration dates 8% A bigger freezer 7%
- 18. Top Takeaways
- 19. Californians accept that human- caused climate change is happening; their worry level about this is high.
- 20. Only 33% of respondents understood that food in landfill breaks down and emits methane; this is down from 42% in 2020.
- 21. Young people and Latinx people seem more motivated by climate change concerns.
- 22. Only 47% of respondents confirmed that their food scraps are collected separately from garbage.
- 23. There’s no silver bullet to fight food waste!
Editor's Notes
- In 2021, the UN Environment Program ED says: “Cutting methane is the strongest lever we have to slow climate change over the next 25 years.” yet, how many Californians are aware that methane is a problem, or that food waste in landfill is a major source of methane? Some of you may remember that Gigantic idea Studio presented about a survey of perceptions of food waste and climate change at the 2020 CRRA – any of you there? Well, three years later, we decided to run the survey again, to see how Californians’ understanding and attitudes have changed, especially given that many of us have been involved with outreach around sB 1383. When we planned this presentation we were hoping to be able to show global examples of the connection between CC and food waste – but did not find much. This ad is from Ireland and is rather literal, but the message is simple and direct.
- The survey was conducted in early July via SurveyMonkey Audience; we got a fairly decent mix of 260 respondents Ages evenly divided into 4 groups; gender 50/50; 46% white, 24% Asian, 21% Latinx, 9% Black (2023 official CA race breakdown: White 56%; Asian 15%; Black 5% Ethnicity: Latinx: 39%)
- Good news! When asked: Do you agree that human-caused climate change (sometimes called global warming) is happening? The vast majority say yes. Thank goodness, in this state at least, climate deniers do not dominate the conversation.
- In fact, the 84% of respondents think that human-caused climate change is happening; is up 4 percentage points from 2020. Those who say it is not happening has dropped from 11% to 8%.
- There are still doubters out there, but more people are anxious and even desperate sounding
- So we’ve set a baseline that folks know CC is happening. Do they care? The number of respondents who are very or extremely worried about climate change is stable at 50%. Almost no change in responses to this question over 2020. Not much difference by age or gender
- There is an increase of those more worried: 46% vs 40% in 2020.
- There is some difference by age and ethnicity. Latinx and young people are more likely to be worried This is one of the few ads that grapples with young people’s behavior change amid concern about the environment/climate
- Back to the survey – to dig down a bit into behavior around food waste: 38% say they buy less and eat leftovers more often; this could also be due to financial hardship. (only?) 28% say they have started to compost. 36% of men say they have made no changes, vs. 17% of women; is this a hint on where to concentrate out outreach?
- We looked at folks’ level of worry but what about their understanding of the issue? We asked…. One-third of respondents are correct: 33% of respondents knew that food in landfill breaks down and emits methane; this is down from 42% in 2020. Uncertainty is growing: Those “not sure” what happens to food in landfill grew from 17% of respondents in 2020 to 24% in 2023. Not great news for outreach effectiveness: One-third of respondents are correct: 33% of respondents knew that food in landfill breaks down and emits methane; this is down from 42% in 2020. Uncertainty is growing: Those “not sure” what happens to food in landfill grew from 17% of respondents in 2020 to 21% in 2023. No/little gender difference in responses Fewer young people selected correct answer (methane): 28% vs 33% for all respondents; fewer young people said they “don’t know”: 20% vs 24% for all respondents. Older folks are wiser? 42% got correct answer (methane); 25% not sure. Less high income <50K were more unsure – 30%
- Regionality: Bay Area – 38% got correct answer (methane) vs. SoCal counties 30% got correct answer (methane) vs. Sacramento area – 29% got correct answer (methane) San Francisco was the first major city to start a large-scale food composting program in1996.
- 2023 Latinx respondents showing greater uncertainty 22% (down from 29%) of respondents understood that food scraps break down and release methane in landfill. 25% (unchanged) of respondents think that food is broken down into compost to grow food. 31% (up from 19%!) are not sure This may be that awareness has been raised but people have not yet internalized the facts…
- Then we looked at motivation for reducing food waste (select all that apply)
- “The right thing to do” was selected by 45% of respondents (down from 49% in 2020). This is a vague response but indicates a values-driven world view. #2 is now “saves money”; in 2020 the #2 response was “feeds hungry people” Fight climate change is #4 choice of all respondents but that has declined from 39% to 32% of respondents. <50K – 54% said right thing to do
- We asked a couple of questions in 2023 that we did not ask in 2020, but the results are still interesting: Despite the requirements of SB 1383, only 47% of respondents confirmed that their food scraps are collected separately from garbage. 28% said that food scraps go in the garbage and 16% said they don’t have food scrap collection service. 8% did not know.
- There’s no silver bullet to fight food waste! Being able to buy the amount needed vs. being forced to buy the amount in a package was the most helpful change for reducing food waste (chosen by 32% of respondents.) 35% of <$50K
- It looks like the messaging about food waste and climate is not reaching folks, and we also see uncertainty growing.
- But, being able to buy the amount needed vs. being forced to buy the amount in a package was the most helpful change for reducing food waste (chosen by 32% of respondents.) One big advantage food waste outreach has over other climate-related activities – we all have agency – the ask is easier than saying get rid of your gas-powered vehicle or buy a heat pump or even stop eating meat. This is a relatively easy step in the fight against climate change that we can all participate I – and I don’t think that has been emphasized up to now. So, 3 years from now, when we do another survey – I’m looking forward to seeing some anxiety and lots of energy around keeping food waste out of landfill, no matter WHY people are doing it, as long as they are! Thanks