Foodsharing is caring - and how else one can save food
Miriam Weitz
April 24, 2023
Foodsharing.de
Perhaps some of you have also experienced this before (it happens to me especially when I go shopping while hungry). Suddenly, in the fridge and/or pantry, there appear to be food items that you don't really like but ended up buying anyway, or you just don't feel like eating them and their best before date is about to expire. So, should you just throw them away, right? However, that definitely doesn't have to be the case. Either you get creative with cooking or you use the platform Foodsharing.de.
The association Foodsharing e.V. aims to reduce the amount of food that ends up in the trash. The platform has been around since 2012 and was able to launch thanks to a crowdfunding campaign. According to its homepage, it now has approximately 200,000 users in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other European countries. The platform collaborates with businesses, such as supermarkets or bakeries, and individuals can also share baskets of food with others. Registration is easy and free via the homepage. However, there is no app available.
Motatos.de
The platform Motatos.de was founded in 2014, initially under the name Matsmarkt in Sweden. At first, the three founders Erik, Kalle, and Uffe were still packing boxes in their home basement - the quintessential start-up classic.
At Motatos, food items are sold that may have a production error on the packaging or are being discontinued. The online store offers the goods at 20% to 80% cheaper than in regular commerce. The ordering process is relatively easy, and payment can be made with PayPal, among other methods. However, Motatos does not offer fresh goods, but the selection of other products is huge. Sometimes the assortment changes daily. The platform delivers free of charge for orders over 45 euros, and delivery is within the usual time frames - so relatively fast (unless the postal service is on strike again). By the way, during the ordering process, you can also see how much you have saved. Motatos also offers bulk packages - which is especially beneficial for people who want to build up a stockpile.
On review portals, one often reads that goods arrive damaged. I have ordered from Motatos myself and so far everything has arrived intact - including a bottle of olive oil.
Sirplus
Sirplus ist ein Lebensmittel-Retter Start-up mit Sitz in Berlin. Bekannt wurde das Unternehmen durch den Auftritt aus „Höhle der Löwen“ - der ein wenig eskaliert ist. Sirplus ist nicht ganz unumstritten - was unter anderem an der Sache mit den ehemaligen „Rettermärkten“ liegt. Früher gab es neben dem Onlineshop auch fünf physische Läden in Berlin, in denen gerettete Lebensmittel gekauft werden konnten. Ende 2021 war damit aber Schluss, rund 50 Mitarbeiter verloren ihren Job. Das Prinzip von Sirplus ist ähnlich wie das von Motatos. Das Unternehmen kauft Restposten ein und verkauft diese weiter. Neben den „üblichen Verdächtigen“ bietet Sirplus allerdings auch Obst und Gemüse sowie Boxen im Abo an.
Too Good to Go
With the help of the Too Good to Go app, one can save food from restaurants, stores, or cafes. Often, at the end of the day, there is quite a bit left over that would otherwise have to be thrown away. The stores or the gastronomy offer so-called "Surprise-Bags" through the app. Users can reserve these and pick them up before the store closes. However, the name 'Surprise Bag' is quite literal. You don't know exactly what you're going to get beforehand. The app is available for free in the App Store, and the prices for the surprise bags are reasonable. The creators of Too Good to Go collaborate with companies and restaurants nationwide in Germany. Even in the village where I live, offers are available.
Pantry.App
A little self-promotion is necessary ;)
With the Speisekammer.App, Matthias Schmid and his team want to declare war on food waste. The app serves as a "digital pantry" and helps users keep track of which food items they have at home and which products are nearing the expiration of their best-before date. Food items can be easily added using the integrated barcode scanner. There is also the option to assign a specific storage location, so that, for example, nothing ever gets lost in the icy depths of the freezer again. The app is simple and intuitive to use, which was particularly important to Matthias Schmid. There is a free and a premium version of the app.
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!
Sharing supplies together – why the Shared Economy is now moving into the kitchen
The concept of Shared Economy has long been more than a short-term trend – it's changing our everyday lives. More and more neighborhoods, shared apartments, and community projects are discovering how practical it is to organize groceries together and manage supplies transparently.
Why sharing supplies is becoming increasingly popular
- Save on costs: Bulk purchases become cheaper when more people participate.
- Save space: Not everyone needs their own package of rice or pasta.
- Better organization: Digital tools make it easy to see what is available.
- Experiencing community: Food brings people together – as does camping together.
From the flatshare to the neighborhood
Especially in shared apartments or families with multiple households it pays off to keep a communal stock of supplies. But neighborhood projects or small communities are also recognizing the added value: shopping, storing, and using together.
How Smantry helps
This is where Smantry comes into play:
- Community Feature: Supplies can be managed collectively.
- Transparency: Everyone can see which items are available.
- Efficiency: Duplicate purchases are avoided, leftovers are used up in time.
- Flexibility: Soon it will become even easier to manage entire communities (including new features such as categories or the option to completely delete communities).
👉 The shared economy doesn't stop with cars – it moves right into your kitchen. With Smantry sharing supplies becomes easier than ever.
At last, it's here: The categorization of articles 🎉
Over the past few months, we have collected numerous feedback from you – and the request for better organization of supplies was one of the most frequent wishes. Soon, it will be possible to sort your items into individual categories, so that you can keep track of everything even more quickly.
Why categories are so practical
- 🥦 More organization in your pantry: Instead of a long list, you can structure your products into categories such as "Vegetables", "Beverages", or "Household Goods".
- ⏱️ Faster Finding: No more long scrolling – jump straight to the right category.
- 👨👩👧👦 Improved collaboration: In communities or family households, everyone can immediately see where things belong.
- 🌍 Customization: You can create your own categories that suit your needs – whether for meal prep, stockpiling, or just your everyday life.
Your wish will become reality ✨
We know how important this feature is to you. That's why our development team has implemented categorization as a high priority. It will soon be available step by step in the app – fulfilling one of the biggest wishes of our community.
We are thrilled that we can make everyday life even easier for you with this. Stay tuned – as always, we will keep you updated on when the feature will be officially released.
👉 Do you already have ideas on how you want to structure your categories? Feel free to send us your suggestions or requests – your input might directly influence the ongoing development.