Smart barcodes reduce food waste

Smart barcodes reduce food waste

Tools for combating food waste

How much food waste is there in Denmark?

Food waste is a significant issue globally, and Denmark is no exception. According to Statistics Denmark, 814,000 tons of food are discarded in Denmark each year. Food waste places a major strain on the environment, as the production of food requires large amounts of energy, water, and agricultural land. Additionally, it is a significant economic challenge, considering the costs involved in producing food that ultimately goes to waste.

Reducing food waste means decreasing the amount of food that is discarded. This can be achieved through improvements in food storage, better logistics planning and traceability, and increasing awareness of food shelf life. By reducing food waste, we can save money, reduce our CO2 emissions, and ensure there is enough food for everyone.

Help is available

Food waste is a major problem today, with millions of tons of good food wasted each year. At the same time, hunger remains a significant challenge in many parts of the world. This is detrimental to both the environment and society. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to reduce food waste. One way to do this is by using smart barcodes / 2D barcodes to combat food waste.

According to GS1, the organization behind barcodes, a study has shown that smart barcodes contribute to a 28% reduction in food waste in Danish retail.

Delfi Technologies + GS1 + Invafresh

GS1 wants Denmark to take the lead in implementing the new 2D barcode in grocery retail. GS1 is an international organization that works to improve efficiency and safety in supply chains by standardizing the identification of products. GS1 barcodes are one way the organization helps reduce food waste. By assigning a unique barcode to each product, it becomes easy to track how much time remains until the expiration date, empowering proactive decisions to reduce food waste.

Delfi Technologies is a leading provider of technological solutions, including for the food and retail sectors. The company collaborates closely with Invafresh (formerly Whywaste), an organization dedicated to reducing food waste. Together, they have developed a range of tools to combat food waste, including combining food waste apps with barcode solutions that involve label printers and handheld terminals.

Use label printers and handheld terminals in the fight

Label printers and handheld terminals are tools that can help reduce food waste. Label printers can be used to print GS1 barcodes on labels that can be placed on food items. This enables easy tracking of how much time remains until the expiration date, empowering actions to reduce food waste. A mobile label printer like the Zebra ZQ610 is particularly useful as it can be easily carried around the store to print labels directly at the shelves.

Handheld terminals, also known as mobile PDAs, are devices capable of scanning GS1 barcodes. They are user-friendly and provide an immediate overview of which items are approaching their expiration dates. This allows for quick decisions on which items to remove from the shelves to avoid food waste. For example, MENY uses the Zebra TC57 handheld terminal in their daily operations to reduce food waste effectively.

Combat food waste

By using smart 2D barcodes and tools from Delfi Technologies, you can effectively combat food waste. Label printers and handheld terminals help ensure that you have control over the expiration dates of goods, thereby minimizing food waste. This approach not only helps prevent food waste but also saves money and resources.

It’s an effective way to make a difference for the environment and society, and a crucial factor in the fight against food waste.


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From food waste to meal with electronic item registration

At FødevareBanken, a non-profit organization fighting food waste and food poverty in Denmark, surplus food is collected and redistributed to benefit socially vulnerable children and adults. Throughout the entire process, a high level of food safety and traceability is ensured using electronic item registration.

Digital tools aid in the fight against food waste

Following a successful trial, Dagrofa is rolling out the food waste app Whywaste to all MENY stores nationwide. At MENY in Solrød, they have already achieved a significant reduction in food waste.