Tian, Shuang
(2025)
Assessing the sustainability gaps of food sharing platforms: a mixed-method approach.
PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
Food waste and food poverty are two interlinked global crises with significant environmental, economic, and social implications. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly one-third of all food produced worldwide for human consumption is lost or wasted each year, contributing to vast amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of critical resources such as water, land, and energy (FAO, 2017). At the same time, around 805 million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition worldwide, highlighting the moral urgency of addressing both food waste and its contributions to food insecurity (Sharma et al., 2016). This dual challenge underscores the need for innovative and sustainable solutions that not only reduce food waste but also tackle the widespread issue of food poverty.
In this context, digital food-sharing platforms have emerged as potential solutions, facilitating the redistribution of surplus food, mitigating waste, and contributing to the alleviation of food poverty. However, despite their promise, these platforms face significant barriers to widespread acceptance and the sustainability of long-term user engagement. Key challenges include concerns about food safety, quality, and freshness, as well as the perceived practicality and reliability of using such platforms compared to traditional food sources. Furthermore, maintaining long-term user engagement is difficult, as initial enthusiasm often wanes due to inefficiencies and the fading novelty of the platform. Without addressing these barriers, the potential of food-sharing platforms to significantly reduce food waste and alleviate food poverty remains limited.
To fill this knowledge gap and advance the understanding of the factors driving the adoption and sustainability of food-sharing platforms, this thesis addresses two critical questions. The first examines the key factors influencing user acceptance of food-sharing platforms, while the second explores the determinants of sustained user engagement. By answering these questions, the research aims to offer practical guidelines for improving the adoption and sustainability of food-sharing platforms.
To investigate these questions, a systematic literature review was conducted to consolidate existing knowledge on the sustainability of food-sharing platforms. This was followed by qualitative research involving semi-structured interviews, guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), to explore factors influencing consumer acceptance of these platforms. Key determinants identified include perceived usefulness, ease of use, social influence, and concerns related to emotional and risk issues. A subsequent quantitative survey examined the factors influencing continuous usage, with a focus on perceived value and perceived risk.
The evaluation framework developed from these findings integrates both qualitative and quantitative insights, highlighting economic benefits, performance expectancy, social influence, and hedonic motivation as key drivers for both adoption and long-term engagement. The framework offers practical recommendations to improve user experience and enhance the long-term viability of food-sharing platforms as a solution to food waste and food poverty. This thesis contributes to a broader understanding of digital platform sustainability, supporting sustainable development goals through more effective food redistribution strategies.
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