Feeding People, Not Landfills: Using Social Norms to Tackle Food Waste in Cities

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 urban contexts. Drawing on research into the links between behaviour, decision-making, and waste generation, it provides practical insights tailored to cities and municipalities. The document combines project findings with established behaviour change approaches to support urban actors 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 urban food strategies and planning processes, the guidance aims to strengthen sustainability efforts and empower cities to play a leading role in reducing FLW.

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