Short answer
Shift focus from immediate sales boosts via bundling to fostering long-term, value-driven customer relationships through loyalty programs to achieve meaningful reductions in food waste.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Sustainability (2025)
- Method
- Quantitative research using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).
- Sample
- 312 participants
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Long-term loyalty programs, driven by value-seeking, are more effective at reducing consumer food waste than short-term bundling discounts, which can be undermined by impulsive purchasing. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Sustainability. Using Quantitative research using structural equation modelling (sem). with 312 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Shift focus from immediate sales boosts via bundling to fostering long-term, value-driven customer relationships through loyalty programs to achieve meaningful reductions in food waste.
Loyalty Programs Outperform Bundling for Long-Term Food Waste Reduction
Long-term loyalty programs, driven by value-seeking, are more effective at reducing consumer food waste than short-term bundling discounts, which can be undermined by impulsive purchasing.
Sustainability · 2025
Key Findings
- 01Bundling discounts show some positive effects on reducing food waste, but these effects are often diminished by impulsive buying, leading to over-purchasing.
- 02Loyalty member discounts have a stronger and more sustainable impact on reducing food waste.
- 03Value-seeking behavior mediates the positive impact of loyalty programs, encouraging more planned and responsible consumption.
Application
Design takeaway
Shift focus from immediate sales boosts via bundling to fostering long-term, value-driven customer relationships through loyalty programs to achieve meaningful reductions in food waste.
How to apply
When designing customer incentive programs, evaluate whether the strategy encourages mindful purchasing aligned with long-term value or promotes impulsive behavior that could lead to waste.
Project actions
- 01When designing a product or service, consider how promotions might influence user behavior beyond the immediate transaction.
- 02Think about how to build long-term engagement that aligns with sustainable outcomes, rather than just short-term gains.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilizes a robust quantitative method (SEM) to analyze complex relationships.
- +Addresses a significant real-world problem (food waste) within a specific, relevant context (Indonesia).
Limitations
The study's findings are specific to the Indonesian context and the restaurant industry. Generalizing these results to other countries or sectors should be done cautiously.
Reliability & validity
The use of SEM and a sample size of 312 participants from multiple cities suggests a good level of statistical reliability and external validity within the studied context. However, self-reported data on food waste can introduce social desirability bias, potentially affecting accuracy.
Think critically
How might the 'value-seeking' behavior be intentionally designed into a loyalty program to maximize its waste-reduction potential, beyond simply offering discounts?
Design Principles
"Sustainable consumption is best fostered through planned, value-aligned behaviors rather than reactive, impulse-driven purchasing."
Understanding consumer behavior in response to discount strategies is crucial for designing interventions that genuinely promote sustainability. This research provides actionable insights for businesses and policymakers aiming to curb food waste by differentiating between short-term promotional tactics and long-term engagement models.
What This Means for Your Design
Buy-one-get-one deals can make people buy more than they need and throw it away. But, loyalty cards that reward you for coming back often encourage people to plan their meals and buy only what they will use, which is better for the environment.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this study to justify the choice of a loyalty-based reward system over a bundled offer if your design project aims to reduce waste or promote responsible consumption.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights that long-term loyalty programs, which foster value-seeking and planned consumption, are more effective at reducing food waste than short-term bundling discounts that can inadvertently encourage impulsive over-purchasing. This suggests that design interventions aimed at sustainability should prioritize strategies that build enduring, responsible consumer habits.
Source
Sustainability
Reducing Food Waste in Indonesia: Examining the Moderating Roles of Impulsive Buying and Value-Seeking in Discount Strategies
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about loyalty programs outperform bundling for long-term food waste reduction?
- Shift focus from immediate sales boosts via bundling to fostering long-term, value-driven customer relationships through loyalty programs to achieve meaningful reductions in food waste. Evidence: Sustainability (2025).
- Why does "Loyalty Programs Outperform Bundling for Long-Term Food Waste Reduction" matter for design?
- Understanding consumer behavior in response to discount strategies is crucial for designing interventions that genuinely promote sustainability. This research provides actionable insights for businesses and policymakers aiming to curb food waste by differentiating between short-term promotional tactics and long-term engagement models.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Shift focus from immediate sales boosts via bundling to fostering long-term, value-driven customer relationships through loyalty programs to achieve meaningful reductions in food waste.
- What were the main findings?
- Bundling discounts show some positive effects on reducing food waste, but these effects are often diminished by impulsive buying, leading to over-purchasing.. Loyalty member discounts have a stronger and more sustainable impact on reducing food waste.. Value-seeking behavior mediates the positive impact of loyalty programs, encouraging more planned and responsible consumption.
- What research method was used?
- Quantitative research using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). with 312 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Sustainability.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing customer incentive programs, evaluate whether the strategy encourages mindful purchasing aligned with long-term value or promotes impulsive behavior that could lead to waste.
- What are the limitations?
- The study was conducted in Indonesia, and findings may vary in different cultural or economic contexts. The focus was on the restaurant sector, so results might not directly translate to other food retail environments.