Household food waste (HFW) hinders sustainable food systems. Using appropriate structural packaging (materials + formats), features, and technology can reduce household food waste. However, American consumer awareness and perceptions of packaging's HFW-reducing impact is unknown same as the relationship between HFW and packaging materials and formats. The aim of this study was to explore what role packaging can or does currently play in reducing household food waste and how aware consumers are of its value. A 31-question online survey was developed to collect responses from 1,000 US consumers. The responses were analyzed first overall, then by population segments. The first portion of this study shows that American consumers know little about packaging features, materials, formats, structural designs, and technologies that keep food fresh and reduce HFW. However, after learning about it, consumers were willing to buy and pay extra for food in packaging that reduces food waste. The second phase of this study, which quantified food waste and its relation to packaging, shows that Americans waste fruits and vegetables the most on an average week compared to other food categories. Plastic and unpackaged food were primarily associated with these products by participants. In addition, Americans threw away half-eaten packaged food and spoiled food without packaging the most compared to other form of food waste. Education should target certain demographic segments since some waste more food than others as significant differences (P < 0.05) and two-way interactions were identified. The study's findings can help develop new packaging, education campaigns, and policies to reduce HFW in the US.
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