Domestic Food Upcycling: Exploring Consumer Profiles and Well-Being in Sustainable Food Practices

Reducing food waste is a major sustainability challenge, and food upcycling (i.e., transforming edible scraps or leftovers into new meals) offers a promising domestic solution. While prior research has mainly examined food upcycling in industrial contexts, less is known about how individuals practice it at home. Addressing this gap, this study analyzed survey data from 772 Italian adults using cluster analysis based on sustainbility orientation, food habits, and cognitive involvement. Participants also reported their anticipated well-being when imagining themselves performing food upcycling, operationalized through pleasure, meaning, and life satisfaction. Three consumer profiles emerged, showing substantial heterogeneity. The most engaged cluster reported significantly higher well-being across all dimensions, whereas other clusters showed more limited psychological benefits. These findings position domestic food upcycling not only as a sustainable consumption practice but, for some consumers, as a source of psychological fulfillment. The results offer actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and sustainability advocates seeking to design targeted educational campaigns and household-level interventions that encourage food upcycling behaviors.