EXPLORING INSTITUTIONAL READINESS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT: INSIGHTS FROM A FOOD WASTE AUDIT USING THE FIVE-PILLAR FRAMEWORK

Food waste poses a significant challenge to sustainable resource management, particularly within institutional environments. This study quantifies campus food waste generation at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Chemical & Bioengineering Technology (UniKL MICET) and evaluates institutional readiness based on five key pillars: policy, infrastructure, financial support, program implementation, and awareness and training. A campus-based audit was conducted over three sampling cycles, measuring pre-consumer waste from three cafés and post-consumer plate waste from a centralized collection point, complemented by survey responses to assess operational practices and stakeholder engagement. Results show that UniKL MICET generates over 60 kg of food waste per cycle (0.079–0.093 kg/capita), with 96% originating from kitchen operations and only 4% from plate waste, identifying food preparation as the primary intervention area. Despite strong awareness among staff and students, the absence of a formal policy, adequate infrastructure, financial allocation, and structured training programs contributes to fragmented management efforts. The findings conclude that UniKL MICET faces significant institutional barriers across all five pillars, limiting its capacity to achieve effective food waste reduction and align with Malaysia’s circular economy goals. Implications: Strengthening institutional readiness across five pillars, in terms of policy, infrastructure, finance, programs, and training that enable universities to institutionalize food waste management and actively support circular economy and national sustainability goals.