(c) Timo Beck
You use them to navigate through the city, to communicate with friends and to search for the love of your life – mobile apps. Their field of application is so diverse; why not use them to make the world a better place? Many people before had this exact same thought. Today we can benefit from their ingenuity because they developed apps to fight food waste. Taste Before You Waste checked out the most innovative apps that you could use to reduce discarded food yourself.
ResQ:
There is too much food left from the buffet at a hotel? The smoothies at the juice bar should be consumed before tomorrow? All those unwanted goodies would find their way into the trash bin if Tuure Parkkinen would not have come up with a cool idea. He is the CEO of the Finnish app ResQ, which aims to connect restaurateurs with potential customers. ResQ is available in 22 European cities and is currently entering the Malaysian market. In Amsterdam you will find more than 55 restaurants, cafés, bakeries and bars participating in the fight against food waste. They offer meals at a reduced price that would otherwise have been thrown out. You can check the deals through the ResQ app. It’s available for iOS, Android and as a web app.
How does it work?
Open ResQ and allow the app to locate you.
You will see all restaurants that participate.
Set your dietary preferences. You would like to rescue vegetarian or vegan food? You can filter deals based on that.
Order the food and pay through the app.
Pick up your goodie at the restaurant.
Tip: In most cases it is no problem to eat your meal straight away at the restaurant instead of taking it with you. Just ask them! If you are curious, ask for the surprise menu. The chef will prepare you an individual meal from yummy leftover products. The ResQ approach has great potential to use resources effectively – for restaurateurs as well as for customers. Save yourself some money and save the planet some troubles.
Thuisafgehaald
Getting to know your neighbours, trying new cuisines and preventing food from getting thrown out? Thuisafgehaald combines all three. Hungry people can check out meals through the app or the website. If you cooked too much, simply share your meals with others. Founder Marieke Hart thinks the world can be made a better place if people are willing to share food. Her vision is to bring people together and this has also a practical side effect: Food won’t get wasted. The service is available all over the Netherlands
How does it work?
Register at Thuisafgehaald and indicate your postcode.
You will get daily notifications about available dishes in your neighbourhood.
You can also actively search for meals. If you found anything appealing, click the pick-up button “afhalen”.
You will get the exact address and contact information.
Pick up your meal and meet your neighbour.
You want to know more about how to save food through Thuisafgehaald? Watch their clip on youtube.
Too Good To Go
The name says it all: It’s all about food that’s too good to become waste. The mission is simple: Save food, save money, save the planet. The Danish Too Good To Go company offers its service in Denmark, Norway, the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland and Australia. Unfortunately the app is not available in the Netherlands yet. In all other seven destinations Too Good To Go connects local restaurants with customers.
How does it work?
Download the app or register on their website.
Search for restaurants in your area.
Select a reduced meal and pay via credit card.
Pick up the food within the designated time.
Enjoy!
Olio
Love food, hate waste. Olio wants you to care about the environment by sharing leftovers with others. The app is available for households and businesses.
How does it work if you offer food?
Take a photo and add a description of the food product.
Provide pick up details.
Welcome a hungry person with a smile.
How does it work if you want food?
Look for offers. You do not have to pay.
Pick up your product and enjoy.
These four apps are only few examples of many food saving apps out there. We from Taste Before You Waste checked them out for you. Because we like their concept, we share them. You are currently using different apps to reduce food waste? Tell us about them. Let’s fight food waste together by using smart technology!