Impact of environmental training, awareness, and green values on sustainable food waste management

With increasing concerns about food waste and its environmental impact, environmental training (ET) is important in improving waste management practices in businesses. Despite its significance, its impact on sustainable food waste management behavior (SFWMB) has received little attention, especially considering the effects of environmental awareness (EA) and green values (GV) in the food sector. To address this knowledge gap, our research investigates these relationships using the theory of planned behavior and the elaboration likelihood model as theoretical frameworks. Analysis was conducted using SMART PLS 4 and structural equation modeling on responses to a survey of 286 fast-food restaurant employees and their supervisors. Our data indicate that ET has a significant impact on SFWMB and this effect is mediated by EA. ET fosters EA by improving cognitive abilities and information, leading to the adoption of ecologically friendly behaviors. Furthermore, a significant increase in GV reinforces the relationship between ET and SFWMB, indicating that this relationship is more prominent among employees who adhere to strong GV. Finally, the Importance–Performance Map Analysis indicates that although ET is highly important for SFWMB, it exhibits low performance. These findings have important implications for businesses, particularly those in the food industry, that are working to improve their waste management practices. Investments in ET can help businesses improve their reputation, reduce their environmental footprint, and contribute to a more sustainable future.