Takeaway food consumption and its geographies of responsibility in urban Guangzhou

Abstract

with the development of e-commerce, the increase of smartphone users and the flourish of food delivery services, ordering takeaway food online has become popular among Chinese young adults during the past five years. However, this way of food consumption has brought about many social and environmental problems, such as the increase of household waste and the decline of family commensality. As a result, takeaway food consumption is often described as one of the least healthy and unethical ways of food consumption. This article explores what Chinese young people care about and how they understand and practice their socio-environmental responsibilities when consuming takeaway food in everyday life, drawing on the connotations of geographies of responsibility. The key findings of this article can advance the understanding of consumers’ geographies of care and responsibilities by rethinking how socio-environmental responsibilities are embedded in everyday practices. Throughout this empirical research, we suggest that scholars and policy-makers need to focus more on the complexities of care/caring and responsibility and the connections and negotiations between everyday responsibilities and the care for social and environmental issues at wider geographical scales.