SuScan: Integration of Consumer-Preferred Sustainability Food Labels into VKJ mobile app

Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact their food choices have on their health and the environment—but finding clear and reliable sustainability information can be a challenge. SuScan tackles this issue by integrating sustainability labelling into an easy-to-use mobile app, empowering consumers to make healthier and more environmentally friendly choices with a simple barcode scan.

The project will first map existing sustainability food labels and conduct a consumer survey in Slovenia and Denmark to understand what sustainability information people trust and value the most. These insights will be used to upgrade the widely used VKJ mobile app (30,000+ users in Slovenia), which currently helps consumers make informed choices based on nutritional profiles. With this upgrade, the app will also provide clear sustainability information on food products, making it a one-stop tool for both health and sustainability-conscious shopping.

Beyond helping consumers, SuScan will also support policymakers and the food industry. The results of the mapping and survey will inform briefs for policymakers and food manufacturers, outlining key areas for improving sustainability labelling and making it more accessible and impactful for consumers.

To maximize awareness, the project will run media campaigns promoting the upgraded VKJ app and encouraging sustainable food choices. By the end of the project, a Consumer Impact Report will summarize app usage and its influence on shopping habits.

With SuScan, sustainability becomes simple, helping consumers, policymakers, and food manufacturers work together toward a net-zero food system.