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Rethinking Food Waste in Aged Care: A Systematic Review Framing Food Waste as an Ecosystem Issue
Elena Piere1, Paula O'Kane1, Miranda Mirosa2
1Department of Management, Otago Business School, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Australasian Journal on Ageing
|March 20, 2026
Summary
Reducing food waste in aged care facilities requires an ecosystem approach, addressing organizational, staff, and resident factors. Integrated strategies can improve waste reduction and resident wellbeing.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Food waste is a significant issue in Aged Residential Care (ARC) facilities.
- Understanding the drivers of food waste is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize evidence on food waste in ARC facilities.
- To identify organizational, cultural, and structural drivers of food waste.
- To develop a conceptual model for practice and research.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted across five databases (1990-2025).
- Nineteen peer-reviewed studies were included in the analysis.
- Narrative synthesis and inductive coding were employed to identify barriers, facilitators, and organizational responses, leading to a conceptual model of the ARC food waste ecosystem.
Main Results:
- Food waste management strategies in ARC facilities were often fragmented and lacked strategic or policy integration.
- Common barriers and facilitators included communication issues, training needs, and infrastructure limitations.
- Resident involvement in waste reduction efforts was minimal, and few studies evaluated intervention effectiveness or utilized theoretical frameworks.
Conclusions:
- Food waste in ARC is a complex ecosystem issue influenced by interconnected organizational, staff, resident, and policy factors.
- The developed conceptual model identifies key leverage points for implementing integrated and sustainable changes.
- Effective interventions can link waste reduction initiatives with enhanced staff capacity and improved resident wellbeing.
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