Experiencing and learning about food and food waste: A phenomenological study of household individuals in Malaysia and Sweden from an ESD perspective

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to map how lived experiences affect the approach towards food and food waste. The study also aimed to map the primary learning sources regarding food and food waste in Malaysia and Sweden.

Theory: The theoretical framework that was used is the Theory of Transformative learning by Jack Mezirow. This is an adult learning framework focusing on the interpretation of previous experiences.

Method: A phenomenological approach was used to study the lived experiences of individuals related to food and food waste. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with six Malaysian individuals and six Swedish individuals to collect data. For data analysis a qualitative software was used.

Results: The research concluded that lived experiences of individuals can, in some cases, have an impact on how we approach food and food waste. Further the research found that there are two primary learning sources in Malaysia and Sweden. These are social media and parents and relatives. Lastly, the need for further research focusing on cultural values in relation to lived experiences of food and food waste was highlighted.