The Comparison of Food Waste Policies in Malaysia and Selected Asean Countries

Abstract

Food waste has emerged as one of the most pressing global sustainability challenges, contributing significantly to environmental degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and economic losses. While many countries have introduced policies to address food waste, considerable differences remain in legislative frameworks, governance structures, implementation mechanisms, and resource recovery strategies. This study comparatively analyses food waste management policies in Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Germany to identify critical success factors and derive policy implications for strengthening sustainable food waste governance in Malaysia. A qualitative comparative policy analysis was conducted using government legislation, policy documents, institutional reports, and peer-reviewed literature. The analysis examined legislative and institutional frameworks, policy instruments, implementation mechanisms, food waste prevention initiatives, resource recovery strategies, and overall policy effectiveness within a circular economy perspective. The findings indicate that high-performing countries integrate comprehensive legislation, strong institutional coordination, mandatory implementation measures, economic incentives, advanced resource recovery infrastructure, and continuous monitoring into coherent governance systems. Japan and South Korea demonstrate the effectiveness of dedicated food waste legislation and mandatory source separation, while Germany illustrates the benefits of embedding food waste management within a broader circular economy framework. In contrast, Malaysia has established a solid institutional foundation but continues to face challenges related to fragmented governance, limited mandatory implementation, inconsistent data management, and dependence on landfill disposal. The study proposes a hybrid policy framework that integrates international best practices while considering Malaysia's institutional and socio-economic context. The findings contribute to the growing literature on food waste governance by providing a comparative policy perspective and practical recommendations to support the transition towards a circular food economy, enhance resource efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and advance Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.