Food waste is a massive problem worldwide: around 1.3 billion tons of food end up in the trash every year. In Germany, it is about 55 kilograms per person per year. Especially during the Corona crisis: Many citizens hamster the supermarket shelves and stuff refrigerators and pantries. But where to put all the food? With these apps you can do your part to reduce waste.
"Too Good To Go"
When the inventors of the "Too Good To Go" app noticed that in restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets and hotels, sometimes flawless food goes to waste at the end of the day, they had an idea: Using the app, you can find nearby restaurants that have leftover food Offer at cheaper prices – a win-win situation for everyone involved. The restaurants are becoming more well-known, the consumer saves money, time and contributes to waste. There are already over 4,500 bars, restaurants and bakeries across Germany, including many small, local shops that need special support in the current situation. The app is available free of charge in the App Store and on Google Play.
"ResQ Club"
The Finnish "ResQ Club" app works similarly to "Too Good To Go": restaurants and bakeries offer leftover food at around half the normal price, you pay via app and pick up the order yourself. So far, the app in Germany is unfortunately only available in Berlin, but it can also be used there during the Corona crisis. "ResQ Club" can be downloaded free of charge from the App Store and Google Play, and a web app is also available.
"SIRPLUS"
The start-up "SIRPLUS" saves food right where it originates: from manufacturers, producers, logistics companies and wholesalers. Large amounts of waste are generated there, for example if products are close to the best-before date or do not meet the standard. "SIRPLUS" then distributes the saved food in an online shop, among other places. The company also offers monthly subscription boxes with a mix of different products that are sent straight to your home. The boxes cost between around 25 and 35 euros – you save up to half the normal price. In spite of the corona crisis, "SIRPLUS" does business as usual – only with more stringent hygiene measures in the rescue markets.
"Etepetete"
The company "Etepetete" also offers rescue boxes. When the inventors noticed that a large part of the harvest went into the garbage due to optical imperfections or remained in the field, they decided to give these products a chance. In their vegetable crates, they send some extravagant looking fruit and vegetables straight from the field to the customer's home. The various boxes cost between just under 22 and 37 euros and can be ordered on the website.
"Too good for the bin"
"Too good for the bin" is a free app from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. It contains over 500 recipes and tips for storing and recycling food. A purchasing planner helps when visiting the supermarket and supports correct decisions when buying groceries. The app is available in the Google Play Store and the App Store. Some tips and tricks for avoiding food waste are also given on the website.
"To eat and drink"
In the "Eat and Drink" app you can choose recipes for ingredients and find new ideas on how to process foods that need to be processed. The app also shows which products are currently in season. Available for free in both the Google Play Store and the App Store.
"Plant Jammer"
The "Plant Jammer" app tells you the ingredients that are currently in the fridge – and which you may even think do not match. The program then asks a few questions to find out the user's preferences and then conjures up an individual and balanced recipe. The basic version of the app is also available free of charge for iOS and Android devices. However, some functions are chargeable.
"OLIO"
With the app "OLIO" you can share leftover food with your neighbors. It doesn't matter whether you have bought, overcooked or found that a product does not taste good to you. Simply set what's left, arrange a pick-up location and share it. Even in Corona times this is a wonderful idea that continues to work – just without contact. By the way, you can also dispose of excess items such as toilet paper in the app. The app is available in the Google Play Store and in Apple's App Store.
"foodsharing.de"
Excess food is distributed on the internet platform "foodsharing.de" – from private households, restaurants, bakeries, canteens, cafés and supermarkets. This works in several different ways: There are food baskets, refrigerators and so-called "fair dividers", which are organized by the food sharing community on the online platform. The apps are available for iOS and Android.
Hammered too much? Avoid food waste without an app
Food waste can of course also be reduced without an app by following a few guidelines. At the moment, the most important thing is to avoid excessive hamster purchases. Having supplies at home is good and necessary, but everything with moderation. Already when shopping, it is advisable to plan the purchases as well as possible, not to go shopping hungry, to avoid XXL packs or "three for two" campaigns, to have the courage to eat ugly fruits and vegetables and to shop seasonally – because these products usually last longer.
As a tip for at home: eat what is edible – we often cut off parts of vegetables that would be edible, such as broccoli stalks, leek roots and all kinds of leaves – often these are even the healthier part. Proper storage of food is also important: Salad stays fresh longer if you wrap it in the vegetable compartment in a damp cloth, apples stay in cool, dark places for longer. Many products can also be processed in other ways: shriveled apples become apple sauce and soft tomatoes are tomato sauce, which can then be frozen.