Designing and Implementing the MySusCof App-A Mobile App to Support Food Waste Reduction

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Behavioral Science
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Consumers contribute significantly to food waste, impacting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12.3.
• Behavioral change in adults is key to preventing food waste.
• Mobile applications offer a promising avenue for promoting sustainable food consumption behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of the MySusCof mobile application.
• To evaluate the perceived quality and user engagement of MySusCof for reducing consumer food waste.

Main Methods:

• The study involved two phases: application development and user evaluation.
• The user evaluation utilized the usability of Mobile Applications Rating Scale (uMARS) to collect consumer data.
• Qualitative feedback was gathered to understand user experience and perceived impact.

Main Results:

• Gamification elements, including hedonic and social components, are crucial for user engagement.
• Functional aspects of the app significantly contribute to perceived impact and user experience.
• Qualitative data confirmed the app's potential for driving behavior change towards sustainable food consumption.

Conclusions:

• Mobile apps can effectively influence consumer behavior to reduce food waste.
• Future app development should prioritize gamification and functional design for maximum impact.
• This study provides a framework for developing effective mobile interventions for sustainable consumption.