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With lockdown restrictions easing and food waste reportedly on the rise again, the UK is reversing progress when we threw away less and were confined to our homes. Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has worked effortlessly with businesses, individuals and communities to achieve a circular economy and curb food waste. According to WRAP, 70% of food waste arising in the UK comes from households – approximately 4.5 million tonnes, £14 billion a year AND around 22 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
So what can we do to reduce the amount of food waste we’re creating? Total food waste in the UK has been on the decline for the past 3 years, but that doesn’t excuse the 9.5m tonne elephant in the room. Here’s 6 different food waste apps that we think you’ll love in the UK!
Users | 1,400,000 +
Karma is a London-based takeaway food app for buying delicious surplus food from restaurants, cafes and grocery stores at a lower price. The app has 1,800+ connected restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and cafes in London with new places added every week! Food is uploaded to Karma by various suppliers and you buy the food through the Karma app and visit in-store to pickup your delicious and sustainable meal. You can also subscribe to favourite eateries and get notified when they have something up for grabs!
Users | 30,000+
Farmdrop is a Greater London and South East app catering to online grocery delivery services helping you get food from independent, local producers that are 100% paid fairly. The app merges farmers’ market quality with supermarket convenience, helping everyone take a step closer to sustainable living. Your shopping list can be edited up to the point of delivery and Farmdrop’s delivery drivers can take away any unwanted packaging you’re hoarding from previous shops.
Users |2,100,000+
Hate throwing away good food you know someone else will enjoy? Using Olio’s app you can add food items to your account, choose who to share it with and set up an agreed time and place to meet, knowing you’ve saved something from landfill. Alternatively, you can pick up some tasty food for free! Currently the app has a no-contact pickups page giving you advice on how to be safe during these hard times whilst still making a positive change.
Users | 7,500,000+
Currently Europe’s leading app for fighting food waste, Too Good To Go connects customers to restaurants and stores that have unsold, surplus food across nine different countries and 15,000 retailers. Something to have in handy when travelling around Europe if you want to eat sustainably!
Users | 5000+
Available on | iOS
Unlike the others mentioned until now, NoWaste is more of a food management app that prevents food waste. The app allows you to organise food and expiration dates using barcode scans or its inbuilt library. Track your food waste and delete your food as its eaten or expired, tracking your monthly wastage through given reports.
Users | 1000+ active
Nosh is an alternative to NoWaste that was developed by the University of Essex. Nosh is a response to the uncertainity around food supplies and panic buying due to Covid-19. The app tracks expiry dates of food items along with its users’ buying and food waste habits, helping you to make informed buying decisions. Nosh also offers a great list of recipes you can use while adding ingredients to your lists.
