Rethinking Food Waste in Aged Care: A Systematic Review Framing Food Waste as an Ecosystem Issue

To synthesise evidence on food waste in Aged Residential Care (ARC) facilities, identify organisational, cultural and structural drivers, and develop a conceptual model to inform practice and research.

Following PRISMA guidelines, five databases (1990-2025) were searched. Nineteen peer-reviewed studies met inclusion criteria. Narrative synthesis and inductive coding were used to identify barriers, facilitators and organisational responses, which were integrated into a conceptual model of the ARC food waste ecosystem.

Food waste responses were largely fragmented and rarely embedded in strategy or policy. Barriers and facilitators commonly overlapped, including communication, training and infrastructure. Resident involvement was limited, and few studies evaluated intervention effectiveness or used theoretical framing.

Food waste in ARC is an ecosystem issue shaped by interdependent organisational, staff, resident and policy factors. The model highlights leverage points for integrated, sustainable change linking waste reduction, staff capacity and resident wellbeing.