The following four apps can help before you go shopping:

• The CodeCheck app can be used like a barcode scanner and checks products. At a glance, it shows whether the selected item is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or lactose-free, or whether it contains palm oil, microplastics, nanoparticles, parabens, paraffins, too much sugar, etc. Alternatives to the product are also suggested.
• Very few consumers are familiar with the meaning of the individual E numbers in our food. Is the substance behind it harmless or can it cause problems for sensitive individuals? The aid information service has created a quick source of information with the E-Number Finder app. You can search directly by E number or by additive.
• It is not easy to tell whether a cosmetic product contains hormonally active chemicals. The ToxFox app shows the harmful substances contained in a product after scanning the barcode. The app, developed by BUND, can be used for all everyday products, whether pencil cases, bicycle handles, or carnival costumes.
• Consumers have a right to know whether and which "substances of very high concern" are contained in products. To find out, they can submit a request to the product suppliers. Until now, this has been a cumbersome process. The Scan4Chem app from the German Federal Environment Agency now makes it easier to submit requests. Users can scan the barcode of a product and automatically send a request to the supplier. The supplier must then provide information within 45 days. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to query the ingredients directly.

There are now also several helpful apps for sustainable, fresh, and fair shopping that provide information about the various labels and seals or introduce seasonal foods. We have also made a small selection here:

• The Nabu-Siegel-Check app has photo recognition. Brief information and ratings help you recognize the environmental benefits of each label. This makes shopping easier and provides quick guidance when you're on the go. There is also a gallery where you can search for labels yourself.
• If you would like to find out about the energy efficiency of an electrical appliance before you buy it, you can use the Energy Label app from the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, which has an energy label scanner. The app's label guide navigates you through the process of buying a new appliance with checklists.
• If you want to do something good for yourself and the environment, you should choose seasonal fruit and vegetables, preferably from your local region. The Seasonal Calendar app from the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food tells you what is fresh on the market in each month.
• When it comes to fish, it is particularly difficult to know which types are safe to buy and which are best avoided. The WMF fish guide is based on global assessments of fisheries and aquaculture and helps you with your shopping using a simple system.

The huge range of little everyday helpers for our smartphones includes all kinds of practical, interesting, clever, and funny apps. We have put together a few suggestions for you below.

• Want to do something about food waste and get a cheap and tasty meal at the same time? The Too Good To Go app finds good food nearby and puts you in direct contact with local restaurants.
• Want to avoid single-use packaging but don't want to lug around large, heavy water bottles? The two apps Refill (Germany-wide) and Tap - Find Water Anywhere (international) show you where you can easily refill your bottle with clean drinking water for free.
• The two apps Go Green Challenge and Environmental Challenges (Android only) draw attention to current issues. Through small challenges, they aim to encourage people to rethink their own behavior. Lots of tips and additional information help and provide guidance.
• If you would like to know what your personal carbon footprint looks like, the 2zero app has the answer. The app is designed to encourage a more conscious use of our resources and show what you can do on a personal level.
• How good is the air we breathe? Reliable and up-to-date information on this can be found in the "Air Quality" app from the Federal Environment Agency. It provides hourly updated data on the health-threatening pollutants particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. The data comes from over 300 air monitoring stations throughout Germany.