Food Redistribution and Responsibility

Food waste is currently one of the biggest contributors to climate
change whilst exacerbating food inequalities and economic
inefficiencies. Redistribution and reprovisioning of surplus food have
been identified as key mechanisms for commercial food businesses to
address food waste prevention as part of this broader food supply
challenge either directly donating to charitable/community groups or
through third party charitable organisations. Retail food waste
discarded to landfill only represents about a third of the total food
waste generated in the sector, since ongoing efficiency measures
have sought to maximise the rate of re-use as far as possible. By
following the flow of food through surplus redistribution chains, this
PhD aims to look at the additional social and bureaucratic weight that
is attached with a food donation and specifically the way responsibility
is practised and managed within such a redistribution model across all
actors (food retailers and manufacturers/donor, redistribution/broker
and receiving organisation). To inform decision making, the definition
and delegation of 'responsibility' itself is critical for the identification of
efficient and ethical food waste prevention and redistribution
strategies, exploring responsibility in practice by following a
redistribution chain underpins this qualitative study. The research
findings will inform best practice for all actors involved in the food
redistribution and help them navigate what may be competing
responsibilities and tensions.