Relocation expert Movinga found that on average, the UK’s perceived value of food wastage was 5% whereas the actual value was 15%. This gives the UK a 'delusion percentage' of 10%.
Only Switzerland and Canada had a higher rate at 13% and 11% respectively.
Age Hänsel, managing director at Movinga, said: “We are increasingly aware of our responsibility towards the world we live in.
“With the oceans becoming ever more polluted with plastic, it’s time to start encouraging individuals to reconsider whether they really need more stuff.”
According to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), on average, UK households waste over 7million tonnes of food per year.
Movinga polled 18,000 households in 20 countries to highlight the 'collective issues countries have with waste and hoarding.' As such, they compared factors including: how much food waste each house thought they had versus how much they actually had, and how much of their wardrobe and household furniture they haven't used in the past 12 months.
The company concluded that the results revealed that individuals are unable to perceive their own part in the global issues countries face in terms of over-consumption and waste generation.
Movinga conducted the study in a bid to highlight the collective issues countries have with waste and hoarding.