🌍 Small ideas – big impact: These companies help you save food in everyday life

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.

🖼️ Private photos for your articles

Make your inventory management visual! With the feature "Upload Your Own Images" you can add a photo to each item – for example, of the packaging, the jar, or the portion in the freezer. This is especially helpful if you share with others in a community or if you want to visually remember your supplies better.

Activation: Open app → Account (last tab in the mobile app) → Settings → "Activate Personal Pictures"

🔍 Target nutritional information

The app automatically displays calorie and nutritional information – super convenient when you're shopping or eating mindfully. Don't need this info right now or want a cleaner view? You can also simply hide the display!

Control:Profile → Account Settings → Enable “Hide Nutritional Information”, to hide it.

💶 Prices & Expenses at a Glance

If you want to know how much you spend on which item or how much money is lying dormant in your pantry, the Price Entry feature can help you. With it, you can plan your shopping even better and even track your budget.

Activation: Open app → Account (last tab in the mobile app) → Settings → “Enable price input”

💡 Prepper Mode: Even More Control

The Prepper Mode has been introduced for those who really want to keep track of everything – including minimum quantities, emergency supplies, and individual notes for serious situations. It's also useful if you just want to make sure you never run out of anything important.

Activation: Open app → Account (last tab in the mobile app) → Settings → “Show Prepper Information”

Here's how you can find your account settings

In the mobile app you can find the settings easily in the last tab on the far right (Account). In the web app click on Account → "Settings".

What is the 5S system?

The 5S principle originally comes from Japan and was used in manufacturing to organize workplaces efficiently and cleanly. The five 'S' stand for:

Seiri (Sort) – Eliminate all unnecessary items.

Seiton (Systematize) – Everything should have a designated place.

Seiso (Cleaning) – Clean regularly.

Seiketsu (Standardize) – Turn orderliness into a habit.

Shitsuke (Self-discipline) – Persist and improve.

Why is this perfect for your pantry management? Because it helps you keep track, reduce food waste and shop more efficiently.

How the 5S principle works at home

🔍 1. Sorting: What do you really need?

Go through your supplies and get rid of anything that has expired or that you have been ignoring for months. This is where the Speisekammer App comes into play: It shows you at a glance what should be used up soon.

🗃 2. Organize: A place for everything

Define categories: canned goods, pasta, breakfast, baking ingredients, etc. Label drawers or boxes – or use the digital storage locations in the app, to maintain order both virtually and physically.

✨ 3. Cleanliness: Hygiene is of utmost importance

If you've already taken everything out – seize the moment and clean the shelves or boxes. Clean storage containers not only look good, but also protect against pests.

🧩 4. Standardize: Develop routines

Once you've tidied up – what's next? To prevent it from descending into chaos again, develop small routines: e.g., a weekly check in the app to see if anything needs to be repurchased or is about to expire.

⏳ 5. Keep it up!

Order is not a one-time action. But with small, regular tasks and the support of your digital assistant – the Speisekammer App – everything stays in flow.

💡 Conclusion: 5S = Efficiency + Sustainability

The 5S principle may sound technical at first – but in reality, it's a surprisingly simple and effective organizational system for everyday life. It helps you to handle food more consciously, save money, and regain control.

And the best part? You don't have to do everything on your own. The Pantry App assists you digitally – with individual storage locations, expiration warnings, and soon even recipe suggestions from your leftovers!