Employee Awareness of Food Waste, Waste Separation and Recycling Practices, and Organizational Sustainability Performance: A Systematic Literature Review
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Food waste has become a critical sustainability issue affecting organizational efficiency, environmental quality, and long-term sustainable development, particularly within the hospitality industry. Although food waste management has been widely studied, the relationships among Employee Awareness of Food Waste (EAFW), Waste Separation and Recycling Practices (WSRP), and Organizational Sustainability Performance (OSP) remain fragmented in the existing literature. This study conducts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to identify research trends, thematic patterns, theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, and research gaps related to these constructs. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 365 records were identified, of which 48 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2020 and 2025 met the inclusion criteria. Bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and thematic synthesis were employed to examine the selected studies. The findings indicate that employee awareness of food waste promotes waste separation and recycling practices, which, in turn, contribute to organizational sustainability performance. However, existing studies have largely examined these constructs independently, with limited research integrating them into a comprehensive conceptual framework, particularly within the hospitality industry. This review contributes to the literature by synthesizing current knowledge, identifying critical research gaps, and proposing directions for future research aimed at developing integrated food waste management strategies that enhance organizational sustainability performance.
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