Shop, cook, and consume sustainably
Matthias Schmid
March 24, 2021
How does one manage a household sustainably?
The vast majority of people can be found at least once a week doing a big shop at the supermarket. Product after product goes into the shopping cart, until finally a batch of fresh goods, as well as numerous cans, Tetra Paks, and jars end up on the conveyor belt at the checkout. A significant portion of this shopping will sooner or later end up in the trash: An individual in Europe throws away an average of 7.5 kilograms of food per month. But how does this happen? And how can shopping and consumption be made more sustainable, both ecologically and economically?
Shop, cook, and consume sustainably
For a variety of reasons, an increasing number of people are striving to lead a life that is more sustainable in many aspects. Personal consumption behavior is often the main focus here: With our purchasing and consumption decisions, we actively contribute to regulating the use of plastic and natural resources, determining the use of land, and supporting certain industries.
If we throw away a considerable part of the food we purchase without using it, the balance is not very positive: We have not only unnecessarily consumed a lot of packaging material and indirectly utilized storage space and transportation services, but also wasted food that could have been put to better use elsewhere.
How does the fact of massive food waste fit with the pursuit of a sustainable lifestyle? In fact, very few people consciously decide to buy excess or to leave food unused. This behavior is rather due to a lack of planning: We do not have an overview of our supplies, we buy certain products multiple times, and let others that we have long forgotten rot away in the depths of our pantry.
Are there still pantries?
That there are still pantries today, and that in times when supermarkets offer a comprehensive range almost around the clock, they are not just a fringe phenomenon, became apparent at the latest with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic: Bulk purchases were publicly discussed and more and more people began to stock their pantry for the coming weeks. However, most households do not have a well-managed space when it comes to storage rooms or cabinets. Ask yourself if you really know what food items you have at home right now. Do you check your supplies before every shopping trip? Or do you shop on impulse, ultimately undermining your attempts to live more economically and ecologically sustainable?
You probably have little to no idea what's in your pantry – and you're in good company. It's not uncommon to find canned goods that expired years ago or food covered with a thick layer of mold in the farthest corners of our kitchen or cellar cabinets. Almost weekly, we buy canned goods that we already have in abundance at home. But how can we tackle this problem efficiently?
How you can create order
Perhaps you're clearing out your pantry as part of the spring cleaning to create order. But is that really enough, or is a truly comprehensive inventory management necessary to maintain an overview? And how can this be achieved when hardly anyone has the time or inclination to fill out lengthy Excel spreadsheets or to set up a complicated household and pantry ledger? Fortunately, there are better solutions to keep track of your own stock, to be able to shop strategically, and thus fill the fridge and pantry efficiently and sustainably: Digital tools make it easy to manage pantry storage.
A major organizing action and smaller recordings after shopping are already sufficient for this purpose. Thus, only the barcodes of the stored products need to be scanned and the expiration dates manually entered into the app. As a result, a digital management of the refrigerator and pantry is created, ensuring that it is always clear during the weekly shopping what supplies are available at home. Ultimately, such digitization of the pantry leads to not buying items twice, to food no longer sprinting towards their expiration date under the radar, to less being thrown away, and to saving hard cash.
Based on the inventory management, the app can generate a shopping list that reflects the actual food requirements, not just the assumed ones, so that the personal stock can be replenished or consumed in a targeted manner. The dream of sustainable living no longer needs to remain just a dream.
Is it possible without an app?
Of course, food storage at home can also be made more sustainable and efficient without an app. However, the effort is significantly higher in this case, as inventory lists must be manually maintained and constantly updated. Those who do not own a smartphone or cannot or do not want to use an app for other reasons can, in principle, implement the concept of digital inventory management in an analog way and thus achieve their goal.
It is important to not only check the storage in the pantry sporadically, but to update the inventory list after every purchase and every use. Moreover, without an app, shopping lists must be created by hand again – so the need for groceries must also be constantly determined independently.
In conclusion: There are many ways to achieve a more sustainable pantry
In conclusion, it is clear that there are many paths to a more sustainable pantry. However, what all these paths have in common is that they rely on consistent logging of all available food items in the house. Only through such comprehensive recording can needs-based shopping and consumption be achieved. The new organizational method can be most easily integrated into daily life via an app, but if necessary, it can also be done by analog means. What may sound unfamiliar at first ultimately leads to success: statistically, it is possible to save 7.5 kilograms of food per person per month, in addition to significant savings in packaging, not to mention the positive impact on the climate and on one's wallet.
Smantry: Not perfect – but made with a lot of heart
Many of our users write to us that theyhave been looking for exactly this kind of app for a long time. At the same time, we also read reviews that say:“Good idea, but …”
And that’s exactly what we want to talk about openly today.
An app for everyday life – not for perfection
Smantry is designed to make everyday life easier: manage groceries, stay on top of things, waste less.
Your feedback shows us that this is already working well for many of you:
- Inputs are quick and straightforward
- The scanner reliably detects most products
- Editing and making changes is easy
- Our support is perceived as fast, friendly, and solution-oriented
We’re really glad to hear that – because that’s exactly what we’re building Smantry for.
Why some things are (still) not perfect
What you often don’t see from the outside: Smantry is developed by a very small team.
Right now we are 5 people, and none of us works full-time on the app. We do this alongside other projects, jobs, and commitments – with a lot of passion, but limited resources.
That doesn’t explain everything, but it provides context:
- Some functions take longer
- Technical issues (e.g. with premium activations) unfortunately happen sometimes
- Not every idea can be implemented right away
Frequently asked questions from your reviews
Why a subscription?
The subscription allows us to cover server costs, ongoing development, updates, and support in the first place. Without continuous revenue, Smantry would not be able to exist in the long term.
"Why isn’t the bug I reported being fixed?"
Sometimes there are several bugs at the same time and we have to prioritize the ones that affect core functions. That can mean that a different bug gets fixed first. We always try to resolve everything quickly – but unfortunately we can only do it step by step.
Why doesn’t Premium sometimes work right away?
Subscriptions are managed through the app stores. In rare cases, synchronization issues can occur. That’s annoying, but not intentional – our support team will always help you with this personally.
Where we want to go
Smantry is meant to get better – not just on paper, but in real everyday life.
This includes:
- more features from the web app
- better stability
- more flexibility with categories
- clearer communication
Your feedback plays a central role in this.
In conclusion
We’re not a corporation.
We’re a small team that believes in a good idea and is putting it into practice step by step.
If Smantry is helping you – even if everything isn’t perfect yet – we really appreciate your trust, your feedback, and of course a fair rating in the App Store 💛
Thank you for being part of this development.
Power outage in Berlin: Why preparation and prepping are more important today than ever
An unexpected power outage in Berlin has recently shown how quickly our daily life can become unbalanced. Traffic lights went out, card payments stopped working, and many households were suddenly without light, internet, or cooking facilities. Such events highlight: emergency preparedness and prepping are not about spreading panic, but rather a sensible and responsible preparation for real risks.
Power Outage – A Real Risk for Major Cities
Whether it's technical malfunctions, construction work, or extreme weather conditions: A Blackout or regional power outage can occur at any time. Especially in large cities like Berlin, the effects are immediately noticeable. Without electricity, many basic systems no longer function – from supermarkets to ATMs to communication.
The most important question is:
Am I prepared for this?
Prepping: Preparedness instead of fear
Prepping does not mean preparing for apocalyptic scenarios. Rather, it's about everyday readiness:
- remain capable of acting
- be able to provide for the family
- Reduce stress and uncertainty
- not be immediately dependent on external help
The power outage in Berlin demonstrates: Just a few hours without electricity can cause major problems.
Stockpiling food as a key to emergency preparedness
A well-thought-out food supply is the foundation of any emergency preparedness. Experts recommend having supplies for at least 7 to 14 days. These include:
- non-perishable food items such as rice, pasta, canned goods
- Drinking water
- long shelf-life snacks
- Baby food or special diet
- off-grid cooking options (e.g., gas stoves)
Yet many households quickly lose track: What's available? What's missing? What's about to expire?
Digital preparation with the Smantry App
Here comes the Smantry App into play – your digital companion for prepping, preparation, and stockpiling. The app helps you to plan your supplies in a structured way and to keep track at all times.
With the Smantry App you can:
- Easily capture food supplies digitally
- Define minimum quantities for emergencies
- Monitor expiration dates and prevent food waste
- prepare specifically for power outages, blackouts, and crises
- Integrating prepping step by step into daily life
This makes emergency preparedness simple, transparent, and efficient.
Prepare now instead of improvising later:
👉 Download the Smantry App and start your digital emergency preparedness today.
Power outage in Berlin as a wake-up call
The power outage in Berlin was an eye-opener for many people. It demonstrates how quickly familiar structures can collapse – and how important it is to be prepared. Those who take precautions in time remain calm, safe, and independent.
Conclusion: Take precautions now instead of reacting later
Power outages, supply shortages, and crises are part of the reality of our time. With a well-thought-out food stockpiling and digital tools like the Smantry App you can make your emergency preparedness simple and effective.
👉 Start your preparation now
Download the Smantry App and gradually build up your personal emergency preparedness – before the next power outage occurs.
Discover the app now and be prepared.
🍂 Cozy Autumn Leftover Cooking – Comfort dishes made from what's available
When the rain taps on the window and the tea cup becomes a permanent guest, the most beautiful kitchen time of the year begins: autumn. And what could be a better match than stylish leftover cooking – dishes that are not only sustainable but also truly exciting.
Autumn leftover cooking means: use instead of waste, but with a touch of sophistication. Here are some more unusual ideas to turn leftovers into small culinary highlights.
🧀 1. Pumpkin Gnocchi from leftover roasted vegetables
Do you have some leftover roasted pumpkin or sweet potato from the day before? Perfect!
Mash the vegetables, mix them with some flour, salt, and grated Parmesan, shape them into small gnocchi, and briefly cook them in salted water until they float to the surface. Then toss them in sage butter and top with chopped walnuts.
→ Tastes like Italy, looks like fine dining – and it's all made from leftovers!
🥖 2. Rustic bread salad with grapes and goat cheese
Tear stale bread into pieces, toast in olive oil until golden brown.
Add a few grapes (wrinkled ones are especially sweet), arugula or lamb's lettuce, crumbled goat cheese, and roasted hazelnuts. Mix with a dressing of balsamic vinegar, honey, and mustard.
→ A fall twist on the classic Panzanella – sweet, salty, crunchy, perfect!
🧅 3. French onion tart with leftover vegetables and puff pastry
Got some leftover puff pastry in the fridge? Make a tart out of it!
Caramelize onions in butter, add some leftover vegetables (e.g., leeks, mushrooms, or spinach). Spread on the pastry, top with a dollop of sour cream or cream cheese, and bake until golden brown.
→ Wonderfully aromatic, especially with thyme or rosemary.
🍎 4. Apple Sourdough French Toast with Vanilla Rum Butter
A piece of stale sourdough bread is soaked in a mixture of milk, egg, vanilla, and a dash of rum, fried in a pan, and served with fried apple slices and a rum butter.
→ Luxurious, yet made entirely from leftovers – perfect for a Sunday breakfast in pajamas.
🥬 5. Risotto made from leftover vegetables with lemon and herb oil
Chop the vegetable scraps finely and cook with a handful of rice into a creamy risotto.
A dash of lemon juice and some leftover herbs (parsley, basil, arugula) blended with oil make a fresh herb oil as a topping.
→ The acidity of the lemon beautifully enhances the earthy autumnal notes.
☕️ Bonus Tip: Using leftovers in a dessert glass
A few spoons of leftover compote?
Some leftover cake or cookies?
Layer it all with yogurt or mascarpone in a glass – and you have an autumnal "trifle" that looks like it came straight from a café in Copenhagen.
🍁 Conclusion
Autumnal leftover cooking is not a last resort, but a playground for creativity. When you look at ingredients with open eyes – not as leftovers, but as opportunities – small, exquisite dishes full of soul and flavor emerge.
Why we never stop refining Smantry ✨
At Smantry, we don't believe in 'finished'.
An app that is meant to accompany people in their daily lives is never complete – it grows, changes, and evolves. Just like the people who use it. 💛
We regularly pay attention to every detail:
How does a click feel? Is the path to a function clear enough? Does the idea behind a new view come across intuitively?
Sometimes it's just tiny things that make the difference – a better-placed button, a simplified overview, or a sentence that suddenly becomes clearer.
What drives us is the idea that Smantry should feel easy, familiar, and meaningful.
We want you to open the app and feel: "Ah, this is exactly how it should work."
Of course, not everything always goes perfectly. But that's exactly the point: We take the time to listen, to observe, to reconsider. Every piece of feedback, every use case, every new idea helps us to understand a little better what really matters.
Smantry is not a rigid product for us – it's a living process. A collaborative project that grows step by step.
And every update, every small improvement is a sign that we are on the right track:
A path to an app that doesn't feel like technology, but like support.
Towards a daily life that becomes simpler. Towards clarity, structure – and maybe even a bit of ease. 🌿
We're staying on it.
Because we are convinced that good things take time – and that it's worth creating them with heart.
Your
Smantry-Team