China’s food delivery service users reached 540 million in December 2021, up from 420 million a year ago, according to figures from the State Information Center and market consultancy iiMedia Research. However, this increase in online takeout orders has also resulted in a concerning rise in food waste. As a result, the State Administration for Market Regulation recently launched a nationwide campaign to reduce food waste by requiring F&B businesses to specify the weight of takeout food they sell online.
The three-month campaign is urging online takeout ordering services to improve the description of takeout food and encouraging F&B businesses to offer smaller portions and clearly mark the weight of meals. This will not only reduce food waste but also promote healthier eating habits among consumers. By offering smaller portions, F&B businesses can help customers avoid over-ordering and encourage them to only order what they can consume.
In a bid to understand the extent of the issue, The School of Economics and Management at Anhui Agricultural University conducted a survey on food waste involving takeouts among college students in the eastern province of Anhui. The survey found that only 31.5 percent of the respondents said almost all the food they had ordered was eaten. This highlights the need for action to be taken to combat the issue of food waste.
Certain factors, such as coupons and a high minimum order requirement, often prompt customers to order more than they need. By specifying the weight of meals, customers will have a better understanding of the amount of food they are ordering, making it easier for them to make informed decisions about their orders. This will not only help reduce food waste but also promote responsible consumption habits.
The campaign is an important step in promoting sustainable consumption practices and reducing the environmental impact of food waste. By encouraging F&B businesses to offer smaller portions, customers can enjoy their meals while also minimizing the amount of food waste generated. In addition, specifying the weight of meals will enable customers to make informed decisions about their orders, helping to reduce the amount of food waste caused by over-ordering.
The campaign is a positive development in the fight against food waste. By encouraging F&B businesses to offer smaller portions and specify the weight of meals, the campaign will help promote responsible consumption habits among consumers while also reducing the amount of food waste generated by online takeout orders. It is an important step towards creating a more sustainable food system in China.
Xinhua News Agency recently reported on several factors that contribute to food waste in China’s takeout industry. Among these is the minimum order requirement that many businesses impose, which can lead customers to order more food than they need. This requirement often creates a dilemma for customers who must order enough to reach the threshold, even if they don’t want to consume that much food.
Zhu Lin, a food industry worker, explained that most takeout businesses set their minimum order requirement at around 20 yuan ($3), with some exceeding 50 yuan. This forces customers to order more than they may want, leading to excess food waste.
Another problem highlighted by Xinhua is the high minimum order amounts for certain types of food, such as drinks. One customer from Guangdong province said that the minimum order amount in some drinks shops is higher than the price of a single item on their menus, making it difficult for customers to order only what they need.
In some cases, customers may also choose to order a larger portion of food because it is a better value than the smaller portion. Xinhua cited one restaurant that sells a 50-gram meat dish for 78 yuan and a 1-kilogram one for 138 yuan. Although the larger portion is nearly double the price of the smaller one, it is 20 times heavier, which may make it more attractive to some customers.
Despite efforts to reduce food waste, such as regulations against it, some problems persist. One of these is the low profit margin for some F&B businesses on takeout platforms, which is due to factors like intense competition and increased costs. These challenges may make it difficult for businesses to reduce portion sizes or adjust minimum order requirements.
the minimum order requirement and high minimum order amounts in certain types of food are contributing factors to food waste in China’s takeout industry. While efforts to reduce food waste continue, the low profit margin for some F&B businesses may make it difficult for them to make significant changes.
The issue of food waste in the food and beverage (F&B) industry is multifaceted, and there are several factors that contribute to it. One major factor is the low profit margin of some F&B businesses on takeout ordering platforms. F&B businesses often have to bear the costs of promotional activities, such as offering free delivery and discounts, which makes the profit from selling takeout very low. This puts pressure on businesses to maintain a certain minimum order amount to break even, leading to customers ordering more food than necessary.
Another factor that contributes to food waste is the lack of clarity on the quantity of dishes being ordered. When ordering takeout online, it’s impossible for the customer to see the actual amount of food they are ordering, and it’s difficult to estimate the quantity by looking at pictures provided by the restaurants. This can lead to customers ordering more than they need, resulting in food waste.
To address this issue, the State Administration for Market Regulation recently launched a nationwide campaign to reduce food waste, urging online takeout ordering services to improve the description of takeout food and encouraging F&B businesses to offer smaller portions and clearly mark the weight of meals. In 2022, the average daily searches for the keyword “small portion” on a takeout ordering platform exceeded 130,000, indicating a growing demand for smaller portion options.
Some customers also choose to order a large portion because the small portion is worse value in comparison. For example, one restaurant sells a 50-gram meat dish at 78 yuan and a 1-kilogram one at 138 yuan. While the large portion is nearly double the small portion in terms of price, it is 20 times heavier. This pricing strategy can lead to customers ordering more food than necessary, resulting in food waste.
In addition to offering smaller portion options, F&B businesses can also play a role in reducing food waste by clearly marking the weight of meals. The State Administration for Market Regulation’s campaign requires food and beverage businesses to specify the weight of takeout food they sell online, which can help customers make informed decisions about the amount of food they order.
It’s also important to note that certain factors, such as coupons and high minimum order requirements, often prompt customers to order more than they need. For example, the minimum order amount in some drinks shops is higher than the price of a single item on their menus, which can lead customers to order more than they want to meet the threshold.
To combat these issues, F&B businesses can offer more flexible ordering options, such as the ability to order individual items rather than being required to meet a minimum order amount. They can also consider offering incentives for customers who order smaller portions or promoting the benefits of reducing food waste.
Reducing food waste in the F&B industry requires a multifaceted approach that involves both customers and businesses. By offering smaller portion options, clearly marking the weight of meals, and providing more flexible ordering options, F&B businesses can help reduce food waste and promote sustainability.