In many Italian households, food ends up in the trash more often than one might imagine. An apple forgotten at the back of the fridge, bread leftover for days, products bought in excess during the weekly grocery shopping — these are just a few examples of domestic food waste, a phenomenon that impacts both family finances and the environment.
According to the Waste Watcher International Observatory, established by Last Minute Market and SWG, in collaboration with the University of Bologna, food waste in Italy is increasing: in 2024, each citizen threw away an average of 29.5 kg of food in a year. A growing number compared to 2023, which distances us from the goals set by the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, which also include halving waste by the end of the decade.
But where does all this waste come from? According to a recent WWF Italy report, the main causes of food waste in households are:
- Poor planning of purchases, which leads to buying more than necessary.
- Forgetfulness, such as food left too long in the fridge or pantry.
- Lack of time or creativity, which makes it hard to reuse leftovers in a creative way.
The good news is that there are simple and effective digital tools to tackle the problem in everyday life. Below, we present four apps that help reduce food waste, improve grocery organization, and cut costs.
Too Good To Go
Born in Denmark and active throughout Europe, Too Good To Go is now one of the most widespread apps in the fight against waste. The system is simple: restaurants, bars, bakeries, and supermarkets sell unsold surplus at the end of the day. Users purchase a reduced-price (between 3 and 6 euros) “Magic Box” whose content is a surprise, but carefully selected and ready to eat. It’s a sustainable and convenient gesture, which allows us to “save” still-good products, reduce food waste in the commercial supply chain, and maybe even skip making dinner.
Bring! Shopping List
Often, waste starts already at the supermarket. Bring! is an app that allows users to create shared shopping lists, organized by category and with the ability to add images and reminders. A useful function to avoid duplicate or unnecessary purchases and to carefully plan weekly meals. The app is especially suited for families or couples who manage the pantry together. Fewer useless purchases, less food thrown away, more money saved.
Cookpad
Inside Cookpad, thousands of recipes shared by users are available, often designed specifically to avoid waste. The app lets users upload their own culinary creations, follow other cooks, share, comment, and save favorite recipes. It’s a real community dedicated to recovery cooking, to turn leftovers into resources and keep them from ending up in the trash.
Svuotafrigo (Empty the Fridge)
As the name suggests, this app is designed to manage ingredients before they expire. By entering what’s already in the fridge, Svuotafrigo suggests suitable recipes, categorized by course and preparation time. A practical and effective way to limit domestic food waste and experiment with new recipes, even with just a few ingredients at hand.
A conscious, sustainable and useful choice
Reducing food waste also means saving money, better organizing daily life, and contributing to a more sustainable future. Small gestures, also supported by technology, can make a big difference.
The Museum of Saving offers its contribution to achieving the Global Goals and promoting sustainability at all levels.
From the workshops “In the kitchen with For & Mica” to the sit-com “Senti un po’’”, both on the topic of food waste, the Museum aims to stimulate reflection on useful behaviors to reduce it.
To continue exploring these topics and discover new strategies for better managing your resources, keep following the blog of the Museum of Saving.
April 2, 2025