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

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 food redistribution and donation systems. Drawing on research into the links between behaviour, decision-making, and waste generation, it provides practical insights tailored to food banks and redistribution actors. The document combines project findings with established behaviour change approaches to support organisations 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 food redistribution strategies, the guidance aims to strengthen sustainability efforts and empower food banks to play a key role in reducing FLW across communities.

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