From now on, you can print your own barcodes
Matthias Schmid
September 24, 2021
Label homemade items with a barcode to easily keep track of inventory, expiration dates, and storage locations.
Most purchased items already have a barcode
Most packaged foods in Europe are labeled with a barcode for commerce. In this case, the barcode is the machine-readable version of a globally unique number (GTIN) that allows products to be identified repeatedly throughout the supply chain. More information on this can be found in this Blog article on the topic of barcodes.
In the supermarket, the payment process at the checkout is greatly simplified by a barcode. When the cashier scans the item at the checkout, there is a short beep. This is the confirmation that the reading process was successful. Through the barcode, the cash register system finds the stored product name, the stored price, and any price reductions.
In larger supermarkets, there is even an inventory management system connected that automatically reduces stock levels and can generate an order when a certain quantity of goods is reached.
Why equip homemade items with a barcode?
By uniquely identifying products by the manufacturer, all sorts of additional information can be stored in databases. Besides the price, as mentioned in the previous section, information about manufacturing, packaging, recycling tips, the Nutri-Score, a sustainability score, nutritional values, and much more can be saved.
This is what makes the use of barcodes interesting in the Speisekammer App as well! Here, additional attributes to the barcode are stored in a database, including the storage location at home, the quantity on hand, the minimum shelf life, a description, and even a photo.
So by scanning a product at home, you can manage your household much more easily with barcodes. You scan a product with the Pantry App and immediately have the following information at a glance:
- Inventory
- Product photo
- Storage location
- Expiration date
This also makes it interesting for homemade products - after all, it is advantageous here as well if you can record your inventory, storage location, expiration date (or possibly the production date) and a photo. In the following section, we will show you how you can skillfully label your products at home with barcodes at a low cost.
And how do I now create a barcode for my homemade jam?
To create a barcode, you need three things:
A unique identifier for your product
A barcode generator
Paper (preferably self-adhesive) and a printer
The unique identifier for your product
Typical identifiers in commerce are EAN8 and EAN13, which are 8-digit and 13-digit numbers, respectively. Unfortunately, by looking at them, you cannot tell what product they represent. If you use a Code 128 instead, you can also use letters for identification. The advantage is that you can directly see what is encoded on the printed label.
For the Pantry App, we have decided to limit ourselves to uppercase letters. So you can use any conceivable word as an identifier, provided you write it in uppercase. For example:
- TOMATOES
- PRE-COOKED
- STRAWBERRY JAM
A barcode generator
Next, you feed your identifier into a barcode generator. This creates a printable graphic from the identifier. There are some free barcode generators on the internet. You can find the one we used for this article further down.
Paper (preferably self-adhesive) and printer
Now print the barcodes you created with your printer. If you use self-adhesive address labels, you can easily apply them to your freezer bags, canning jars, and cans. For example, you can order these through Amazon (affiliate link):
Some examples for downloading
As an example, we have generated some barcodes for you that you can print out and use:
Various examples of barcodes for homemade items. You can print these out and stick them on your homemade products.
If you can't find what you're looking for, you can easily create more for free at Tec-IT yourself. Simply select "Code-128" and make sure to use only uppercase letters so that the Pantry App can read the barcodes:
Alternatives to Code128
There are also Code 11, EAN8, EAN13, QR Codes... why is Code 128 being used in this blog article?
It doesn't matter whether you use Code 39 or Code 128, they have the following advantages:
- The identifier consists of letters, so you can directly recognize by the label what kind of product it is
- The barcode includes a check digit that makes the scanning process more robust
- The barcode can be read with simple single-line (1D) scanners
Unfortunately, there is no room for additional information within the barcode itself, as it would quickly become too long.
EAN8/EAN13
If it's not important for you to be able to read the label to know what it's about, you can also use EAN8 or EAN13. These barcodes also contain a check digit. To ensure that you don't accidentally use the same barcode as food manufacturers with your own barcode, there are so-called "in-house" codes. These always start with "2" and can otherwise be chosen freely. So here you also have a huge stock of barcodes that you can read with a 1D scanner. Another advantage is the fixed width of the barcode. This is especially important when there is limited printing space on the product.
QR Codes
QR codes are quite modern compared to their predecessors; they were developed in Japan in 1994. The advantage is that there is a lot of space within the barcode itself - up to 4296 characters. When using digits, even 7089 characters can fit.
Here, information such as product name, product size, nutritional values, and much more can be directly stored. It also contains correction data for a robust scanning process and can be read quickly. The downside of the QR code is that it requires a 2D scanner.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to equip your homemade products with barcodes using fairly simple means, so that you can manage them more easily with the Pantry App. This way, you can also easily manage inventory for homemade items, add photos, and much more.
We have limited ourselves to simple 1D barcodes (Code 128) that can also be read by basic scanners.
Have fun trying it out!
More clarity when shopping: How Open Food Facts and the Smantry app make nutrition transparent
Many foods look healthy at first glance – but what's really inside them? Are the nutritional values balanced? How processed is a product? And what impact does it have on our environment?
This is exactly where the Smantry-App comes in: It uses the globally open database Open Food Facts, to give you immediate clarity when scanning your items. But what's actually behind the colorful labels like Nutri-Score, NOVA or Eco-Score, that you encounter in the app?
Let's take a closer look at the background.
Open Food Facts: From the Idea to a Global Database
The journey began in 2012 with the founding of Open Food Facts – a non-profit organization that collects, analyzes, and makes food information freely accessible worldwide. The goal from the beginning was to provide consumers with scientifically substantiated information.
What started as a small project has now become a global platform with millions of products. And it is precisely this data that the Smantry-App uses to give you a clear overview directly on your smartphone.
An overview of the most important scores
1. Nutri-Score – how healthy is my product?
Since 2016, the Nutri-Score has been legally established in France – and it has quickly spread throughout Europe.
- A (green) means: very balanced.
- E (red) means: unbalanced, enjoy in moderation.
The rating is based on calories, sugar, salt, saturated fats – but also on positive factors such as fiber, protein, and the proportion of vegetables.
👉 So in the Smantry app, you can see at a glance whether a food item fits into your everyday life – or perhaps should be on the table less often.
2. NOVA-Score – how processed is it?
Not only the ingredients, but also the degree of processing plays a significant role for health. This is exactly what the NOVA-Score (integrated into Open Food Facts since 2018) shows you:
- 1 = unprocessed or minimally processed (e.g., fresh fruit, plain yogurt)
- 2 = ingredients such as vegetable oils, sugar, flour
- 3 = processed foods (e.g., bread, cheese, canned goods)
- 4 = highly processed products ("Ultra-Processed Food"), often with additives, flavors, and industrial processes
👉 With the Smantry app, you can instantly tell if a product is still 'close to nature' – or if it falls into the category of being highly processed.
3. Eco-Score (soon to be Green-Score) – how sustainable is my shopping?
Since 2019, Open Food Facts also includes an environmental assessment: the Eco-Score. It takes into account, among other things:
- CO₂ emissions from production and transportation,
- Packaging and recyclability,
- Origin and seasonal factors.
The rating is – similar to the Nutri-Score – from A (very eco-friendly) to E (less sustainable).
By 2025, this will become the Green-Score, which will take into account even more detailed data and thus provide you with even better guidance for sustainable consumption.
👉 For you in the Smantry app, this means: You can see not only whether a food is healthy for you, but also whether it is good for our planet.
What this means for you as a Smantry user
Currently, you can scan your products in the Smantry-App and view many details. The scores themselves are not yet integrated – but the integration is planned.
This means: Soon you will be able to see not only the nutritional values of a product but also how healthy, processed, or sustainable it is – all directly in your app.
Conclusion: Your Smart Nutrition Compass
The colorful labels are much more than pretty symbols. They are your quick compass in everyday life – whether you want to shop with health consciousness, reduce highly processed products, or pay attention to the environment.
With the Smantry-App you already have strong support for more transparency while shopping. And with the planned integration of the scores, it will become even more valuable – your smart nutritional compass for the future.
Cooking with the Future: Augmented Reality and Smart Interfaces for Your Recipes
That’s exactly what augmented reality (AR) and smart interfaces bring to the table. They project digital information where you need it most: into your cooking environment. This makes it easier to stay organized, cook more efficiently, and even reduce waste – because less stress in the kitchen often means fewer forgotten or spoiled ingredients.
And here’s where Smantry comes in. The app already helps you keep track of your pantry, avoid food waste, and stay in control of your kitchen. With upcoming features like leftover-based recipe suggestions, you’re already stepping into the smart kitchen future today.
👉 Bottom line: The kitchen of tomorrow is here – and it’s efficient, sustainable, and surprisingly fun.
The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes 🍲✨
Hand on heart: Each of us has them – those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
🥣 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips – a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
🔪 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
🍳 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread – everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
🥕 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
🥡 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
🌱 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
🥄 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender – perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you 📲
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
👉 Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.
New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! 🌱📲
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
👉 Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! 💚 Try it now!