Rabobank Food Waste Report reveals Tasmanians spend $641 on food not eaten

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Millie Pardoe from Collide Wholefood store on Criterion St, Hobart. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

TASMANIAN households are spending hundreds of dollars each year on food they never eat, and the main culprits are the younger generations, a new study reveals.

The Rabobank Food Waste Report, released on Friday, revealed Tasmanians are spending $641 each year on excess food.

Along with the Northern Territory, Tasmania is the least wasteful of the states, but it is up to the younger generations to ensure this continues.

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Nationally, generations Y and Z waste 15 to 16 per cent of the food they buy according to the report, more than twice as much as the baby boomer generation.

Rabobank spokesman Glenn Wealands said this was due to the culture of speed and ease they’ve been exposed to.

Millie Pardoe from Collide Wholefood store on Criterion St, Hobart. They waste as little as possible and all their scraps are composted. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“They’re claiming to be more socially aware but whether that translates into behaviour, well there’s more work to be done,” he said.

“The older generations have lived through recession so there is an appreciation of scarcity.”

Mr Wealands said Tasmanians tend to waste less food in their household because they have a heightened appreciation of where their food comes from.

However, unlike many other states, Tasmanians have not reduced their waste from the year prior.

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Collide Wholefoods is a local business conscious of this issue. Founder Millie Pardoe said when she and her partner opened the store three months ago the aim was to offer the freshest produce while limiting waste.

“We went into this feeling frustrated about the packaging of wholefoods and the overall amount of food that is wasted in households and business,” Ms Pardoe said.

The business does its best to reduce waste — both of food and packaging — with the help of a local who picks up their packaging and food scraps and composts it herself.

Ms Pardoe said although households account for much of the food wasted, businesses are also responsible.

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