Transportation costs, climate change, extreme weather - and how they affect food prices
Miriam Weitz
December 27, 2023
What does climate change have to do with rising food prices?
Climate change is affecting the food market. Extreme weather events such as flash floods, heavy snowfalls, or extreme heat have a significant impact on crops, for instance, prices for coffee, olive oil, and even potatoes have soared. Additionally, as sad as it is, there's the "greedflation". Because there are indeed manufacturers who not only pass on the increased costs to consumers but also add a large profit margin on top of that.
The increased frequency of natural disasters also affects the transportation and logistics infrastructure, leading to bottlenecks and rising transport costs. These factors in turn create a breeding ground for sometimes extreme price fluctuations. The rising food prices are therefore not just a direct result of climate change, we should also see them as a wake-up call for the urgent need for sustainable measures.
The PantryApp may just be a small part, because every bit of food that doesn't end up in the trash ultimately protects the climate. If each of us does a little bit towards climate protection every day, then together we are already doing a great deal.
The toll increase and the food prices
The increase in truck tolls also has a significant impact on food prices. Starting December 2023, CO₂ emission classes will be introduced as a new tariff feature in the toll system. A CO₂ surcharge of 200 euros per ton will then be due. Trucks with a technical weight of 7.5 tons are exempt. This implies, by inference, higher operating costs for freight transport. For food items that need to be transported over long distances before reaching the consumer, these costs are often passed on through the production, storage, and delivery stages. Therefore, this cost pressure can also affect the final retail price.
The additional revenue that is hoped to be gained from the increase in truck tolls is intended to be invested in the railway infrastructure. Moreover, this is supposed to create incentives to switch to alternative propulsion systems.
... And then there was the carbon tax
In 2024, the next increase will come, which will directly affect us consumers again. The CO₂ levy on diesel will rise - to 40 euros per ton. This means that gasoline at the gas stations will become more expensive once again. At the same time, the government purchase incentive for electric cars expired in mid-December. Around 2.4 billion euros were distributed in 2023. However, the tax advantage for electric vehicles continues, and from 2024 there will be additional tax reliefs.
Which foods have become more expensive? Where have there been noticeable price increases?
Ende 2022 stieg die Inflation auf fast 9 %, seit diesem Jahr ist sie allerdings kontinuierlich gesunken. Aktuell liegt die Inflation bei 3,2 %. Trotzdem sind einige Lebensmittel teurer geworden und es sieht auch nicht danach aus, dass die Preise zukünftig sinken. Das liegt zum einen an den gestiegenen Energiekosten - aber auch daran, dass die Lebensmittelkonzerne höhere Gewinne einstreichen - die sogenannte Gierflation, die ich weiter oben schon mal erwähnt habe.
Prices have risen for items such as butter, sunflower oil, canola oil, or margarine. Milk and curd as well as various types of fruits and vegetables, and pasta, bread, and wheat flour have also become more expensive. Therefore, it mainly affects staple foods, which makes the price development problematic.
Moreover, meat prices have increased, as production here is very energy-intensive. Making a cost forecast at this point is more like looking into a crystal ball. It can be said with near certainty that the low prices seen between 2009 and 2019 are unlikely to be reached again.
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
🌱 Staying on track made easy: How to stay motivated to create order and avoid food waste
We all know it: Initially, the motivation is high! You finally want to get your kitchen organized, keep an eye on your supplies, and shop more consciously. But after a few weeks, everyday life creeps back in – and the good resolutions start to falter.
With Smantry we want to support you not only in getting started, but also in sticking with it in the long term. 💪✨
1. Be aware of why you are doing this
Order and sustainability are not short-term trends – they grant you freedom, time, and a good feeling. If you know why you want to keep your supplies in check or throw away less food, it becomes much easier to stay consistent.
👉 Tip: Write down your 'why' in the app note or as a reminder.
2. Set small, achievable goals
Nobody becomes an organizing pro overnight. Start small:
- Today I'm just organizing the spice rack.
- Check the fridge this week.
- On your next shopping trip, purposefully buy only what you really need.
Small steps lead to success – and success motivates!
3. Make it easy for yourself – with smart helpers
Smantry automatically reminds you of expiring products, helps you keep track of your inventory, and assists you with shopping. This way, you have to think less and can enjoy more.
👉 The less effort required, the easier it is to stick with it!
4. Celebrate your progress 🎉
Creating order or avoiding waste is a process, not a sprint. Regularly review what you have already accomplished – you may already see that you need to throw away less or that your supply is finally manageable. That's great!
5. Make it part of your routine
Schedule fixed 'Smantry moments': for example, briefly check the inventory on Sundays or update the shopping list before going shopping. Routines provide structure and make sustainable actions a matter of course.
💚 Conclusion:
Motivation is not a perpetual flame – but with the right tools and habits, you can reignite it time and again.
With Smantry, you have a smart companion by your side that helps you stay organized, consume more consciously, and incidentally do something good for yourself and the environment.
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.