Infrastructure, Impulsivity, and Waste. Exploring the (Un)sustainable Routines of Mainstream Food Shoppers

Significant research attention has been given to the role of alternative/short food chains in addressing food consumption sustainability challenges. However, with conventional mainstream retailers dominating retail markets (> 70% in Ireland), enabling consumers to navigate these retail spaces, from a sustainable consumption perspective, also warrants attention. This chapter utilises a social practice framework to capture the shopping practices of 21 ‘mainstream’ shoppers. This research seeks to explore the shopping routines of so-called mainstream shoppers to uncover ways their shopping practices contribute to food waste. Meanings, competencies, and material elements are considered. Various (un)sustainable consumption practices were identified across both in-store and online infrastructures. The findings underline that food provisioning infrastructures, both in-store and online, influence related practices such as meal planning and storing. Special offers encouraged impulse purchasing, without a clear plan on how to integrate that extra food into the household’s food consumption routines. The infrastructures and impulse buying had implications for household-level food waste, but there were some success stories. In sum, this chapter provides helpful insights on where appropriate policy and retail interventions could unlock sustainable consumption via traditional acquisition routes.