28 JAN 2026 (WED) 16:05 - 16:35

Governing Food Waste in China: Policy Evolution, International Lessons, and Moral-behavioral Gaps in Urban Consumption   

Ms LI Tonglu    

( Supervisor: Prof Peter K Koh )

Abstract:

Food waste poses a critical global sustainability challenge, with China’s case being particularly severe due to its scale, distinctive consumption patterns, and resource constraints. Despite ongoing policy initiatives, governance effectiveness remains limited by persistent disconnects between policy design, implementation, and behavioral adaptation. This study addresses these gaps through a multi-level analytical framework examining macro policy evolution, meso institutional coordination, and micro behavioral drivers. 

Guided by this framework, using a triangulated multi-method approach, the research consists of three interrelated investigations. The first employs a three-dimensional policy text analysis (2009–2021), revealing a strategic shift from basic food saving toward sustainable development and ecological civilization. This transition reflects a broader governance reorientation: from state-led supply-side tools (65%) toward a networked model emphasizing demand-side instruments—such as social participation—which peaked at 60.9% in recent years, signaling an intentional empowerment of societal and market actors. 

The second component presents a structured comparative analysis of the food service sectors in China and Japan, highlighting fundamental differences in institutional coherence. Findings show that Japan’s high policy alignment stems from a synergistic three-tier governance structure, whereas China’s fragmented system leads to notable disconnects across national, local, and enterprise levels. This institutional misalignment contributes to technological gaps and cultural disengagement, ultimately hampering governance outcomes. 

The third part introduces an exploratory sequential mixed-methods study focused on online food delivery behavior. Moving beyond conventional applications of the Norm Activation Model, it proposes a situational morality framework, which conceptualizes behavior as negotiated between internal norms and external pressures—including situational constraints and collective influences. This approach helps explain the dual role of collectivism, which can foster moral obligation yet also give rise to “inefficient collectivism,” where group dynamics inadvertently increase waste. 

Theoretical contributions include an evolved policy tools framework that captures the dynamic co-evolution of policy instruments and objectives, offering a replicable model for longitudinal policy analysis in sustainability governance. The study also advances institutional nestedness theory through a China–Japan comparative lens and extends the Norm Activation Model by integrating cultural and situational dimensions. Practically, the findings provide evidence-based guidance for policymakers, industry leaders, and educators to improve governance coherence, operational efficiency, and behavioral interventions. 

Overall, this research demonstrates that overcoming fragmented approaches and fostering synergistic integration across the policy-institution-behavior continuum is essential for effective food waste governance, both within China and in other contexts facing similar multi-level governance challenges.