Food waste heterogeneity among Spanish households: a quantile regression approach

Abstract Food waste is a global systemic issue that poses major threats in economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Recent policy efforts have primarily targeted households, as they are responsible for most food wasted. However, for these policies to be effective, they must account for household heterogeneity, recognizing that certain socioeconomic characteristics may influence differently depending on their level of waste. This study investigates the heterogeneous impact of socioeconomic characteristics on Spanish household food waste over the period 2018–2022, analysing households from minimal to substantial waste ratios. A quantile regression approach is applied to estimate the effects across the entire distribution of food waste, rather than focusing only on average effects. Results indicate that household characteristics influence food waste in a significant different way depending on their waste level. Moreover, product-level heterogeneity is also addressed, highlighting perishable products (fish and vegetables) as critical targets. Our findings point to the need for designing highly precise interventions, focusing on specific products and socioeconomic groups that contribute most to food waste.