The scientific article Why We Waste, written by I. Sjahrial, M. Khaliqi, A. Harahap, M. I. Nasution, and R. Syahputra, presents a comprehensive examination of food waste behavior from the perspectives of psychology and consumer behavior. Amid growing global concern over food security, environmental sustainability, and modern consumption patterns, this study makes a significant contribution to international scholarly literature. Among the authors, Muhammad Khaliqi stands out for his role in developing the meta-analysis framework, organizing cross-study datasets, and formulating academic interpretations that connect empirical findings with contemporary behavioral theories.

 

As a young researcher with interests in consumer behavior and behavioral sustainability, Khaliqi focuses on the underlying human behavior structures behind food waste. Food waste is not merely a household economic consequence; it is a complex expression of habits, emotions, social values, and lifestyle changes. Through a meta-research approach—systematically integrating dozens of studies across countries—Khaliqi aims to map these behavioral patterns and produce a more holistic understanding.

 

The Why We Waste project began with an extensive literature search that produced 57 behavioral datasets from global scientific publications. Each entry was extracted, coded, and analyzed to identify variables that consistently appear in household food waste research. This process required high precision, particularly in standardizing variable definitions, behavioral indicators, and classifications of psychological and social factors contributing to food waste.

 

From this process, the team developed six major categories influencing food waste:

1. Demographic factors

2. Emotions and personality

3. Knowledge and awareness

4. Behaviors and habits

5. Attitudes and perceptions

6. Social and environmental norms

 

Khaliqi’s intellectual contribution is evident in the development of this categorization model. He led the grouping of variables using psychological consumption theory, ensuring the classification was both systematic and relevant for interdisciplinary research. With this approach, the study not only identifies causal factors of food waste but also builds a theoretical bridge connecting empirical findings with key concepts in human behavior.

 

Among the six categories, the most dominant finding lies in behavioral patterns. Through cross-study data validation, Khaliqi and the team show that food waste is largely driven by small, repeated decisions—such as purchasing food due to promotions, cooking excessively, or storing food without planning. This aligns with modern psychological literature emphasizing that daily actions are shaped more by habits than by rational cognitive processes.

 

Another significant contribution is the analysis of emotions and personality, revealing strong correlations between psychological traits—such as impulsivity, hedonic motivations, and novelty-seeking—and higher levels of food waste. Individuals who use food as emotional expression or comfort tend to waste more, whereas those with eco-centric personalities or high social awareness tend to waste less.

 

Khaliqi underscores the importance of understanding these psychological dimensions. Traditional food waste interventions have largely relied on moral or educational campaigns—for example, urging people to “finish their meals.” However, the study suggests such approaches are insufficient unless they consider deeper behavioral structures such as habit formation, self-image, and social norms. These findings can inform the design of behavioral interventions, including packaging redesign, portion-size adjustments, digital reminders for household food storage, and nudging-based educational programs.

 

Beyond theoretical insights, the study contributes methodologically through its rigorous meta-analysis. Khaliqi played a central role in harmonizing methodologies across studies with differing definitions, instruments, and measurement scales. The primary challenge was ensuring comparability across datasets, enabling robust and scientifically defensible pattern identification. This consistency elevates Why We Waste as an important academic reference for researchers expanding sustainable consumption models.

 

Khaliqi also highlights the relevance of these findings for Indonesia. With rising income levels, urban lifestyle shifts, and increasingly consumerist youth culture, Indonesia faces a growing risk of escalating food waste. Yet, domestic scientific literature remains limited. Thus, this study serves as a conceptual framework for future local research—from urban household behavior studies to culinary preference analyses and policy evaluations for waste management.

 

More broadly, Khaliqi’s work reflects the growing influence of young academics in global sustainability dialogues. With methodological rigor and the ability to connect empirical findings to contemporary research needs, he pushes food waste scholarship toward a more multidimensional direction—placing humans, with their psychological, social, and cultural complexities, at the center of analysis.

 

For policymakers, the study provides practical insights. Findings on social norms can inform public campaigns promoting responsible consumption, while insights into impulsivity and hedonic decision-making may guide the retail and culinary sectors in designing marketing that does not encourage over-purchasing. Thus, the research offers strategic value across sectors: academia, government, the food industry, and environmental organizations.

 

In academic settings, Khaliqi’s contributions demonstrate the capacity of emerging researchers to integrate multiple disciplines in addressing complex issues. He brings together behavioral science, consumer studies, meta-analytic statistics, and sustainability theory into a coherent research framework. Such multidisciplinary approaches are increasingly essential in tackling global challenges like food waste, climate change, and overconsumption.

 

Through Why We Waste, Khaliqi not only enriches scientific literature but also lays a foundation for future research in USU and Indonesia. The study deepens understanding of societal consumption patterns and opens pathways for evidence-based policy interventions. Ultimately, his academic contributions exemplify the strength of a new generation of Indonesian scholars—researchers who move beyond observation to interpret patterns, connect theories, and provide conceptual solutions to global challenges.