RMIT

National Date Labelling and Storage Advice Consumer and Industry Qualitative Research

Harnessing consumer and industry insights to improve food labelling, reduce waste and create change

Background

Food waste is a major problem in Australia. It has significant environmental and economic impacts, accounting for around 3% of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. 

RMIT University’s End Food Waste CRC engaged Wallis Social Research to conduct two rounds of qualitative research with community members and industry stakeholders as part of its National Date Labelling and Storage Advice project.

Process

The first component of the research involved online interviews with 125 consumers across Australia. They explored household food consumption and food waste behaviour patterns focusing on ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ date labels and storage information. Consumers’ suggestions for improving date labelling and storage advice information systems to reduce consumer food waste were also sought.

The second component of the research comprised 7 collective intelligence workshops with selected industry stakeholders and consumers to seek feedback on concepts developed to improve date label and storage advice systems on food packaging.

Outcomes

The RMIT team has used the findings to identify consumer perceptions of date labelling and storage advice, explore improvements to reduce food waste, and develop pilot packaging designs. They also examined industry's role in driving systemic changes to labelling and storage guidance.

The consumer interviews report was published at: https://endfoodwaste.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/EFWA_124_DateLabel_ConsumerInterviewInsightsReport.pdf

Have a similar project? Get in touch.