The Association between Javanese Culture and Food Waste among Gen Z

Household food waste is a global issue that needs to be addressed due to its significant impact on the environment, economy, and social well-being. In Indonesia, Generation Z has emerged as one of the primary contributors to household food waste, driven not only by sociodemographic factors but also by local cultural values. This study aims to analyze the relationship between Javanese cultural norms particularly pakewuh and the amount of food waste among Generation Z, while also considering sociodemographic determinants. A total of 100 respondents were surveyed, and the data were analyzed using Spearman s correlation test. The findings indicate that pakewuh culture has a significant negative relationship with food waste, suggesting that strong commitment to cultural norms and values reduces the tendency to discard food. Age also shows a significant negative relationship with food waste, with the 18-22 age group generating the highest amount of food waste. In contrast, gender, education level, and income show no substantial relationship with food waste levels. This study highlights the dual role of Javanese culture in shaping food waste behavior and contributes to the gap literature by providing empirical evidence on the interaction between cultural norms particularly pakewuh and sociodemographic factors in a developing country context. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2025.