Using Social Norms to Reduce Food Waste: An Actor-Specific Guidance for Schools

This guidance, developed within the CHORIZO Horizon Europe project, explores how social norms—unwritten rules shaping everyday behaviour—can be leveraged to reduce food loss and waste (FLW) in educational settings. Drawing on research into the links between consumer behaviour, decision-making, and waste generation, it provides practical insights tailored to schools, engaging pupils, staff, and families. The document combines project findings with established behaviour change approaches to support school communities in designing effective interventions. It offers background knowledge, real-world examples, and a structured step-by-step framework to plan, implement, and evaluate actions that shift social norms and reduce waste. By integrating social norms into school food strategies, the guidance aims to strengthen sustainability efforts and empower school communities to take meaningful action towards reducing FLW.