La Federación Española de Bancos de Alimentos and the network have recently launched a Plan B initiative, a national digital platform connecting donor companies, food banks, and charitable organisations. The system manages and documents the entire donation workflow, helping to streamline operations while improving transparency and accountability.
Plan B is a Response to the Mandatory Traceability of Food Donations in Spain
Plan B is a response to Spain’s new fully implemented food waste law (Ley 1/2025), which aims to ensure that edible food is no longer treated as waste. Under the new legislation, companies must prioritise donation before considering disposal. The law applies across the entire food chain, including producers, manufacturers, retailers, horeca operators, and public institutions.
One of the most significant elements of the legislation is mandatory traceability. Companies are required to document what, when, how much, and to whom food is being donated. As a result, food banks are taking on a much broader role within the system. In the Spanish model, food banks are no longer seen only as charitable logistics operators, but increasingly as coordination, compliance, and traceability partners.
Digital, Scalable, and Traceable Solutions Through Food Banks
Thus, the Plan B initiative may become one of the most important developments for European food banks in recent years, not only because of the environmental impact, but also because it redefines the role food banks can play within the food system: The platform can automatically suggest the most suitable recipient organisations based on distance, storage capacity, and transport capabilities. It also supports donation certificates and provides data that companies can use for ESG reporting.
One of the most innovative aspects of Plan B is its carbon footprint calculation feature. The system estimates the CO₂ emissions avoided by redistributing food instead of wasting it. This creates additional value for companies increasingly focused on sustainability targets and ESG commitments.
Plan B pilot projects in Spain are showing promising results: In Vizcaya alone, the platform has already supported hundreds of digitally managed donations and facilitated the redistribution of more than 170 tonnes of food.
Steps Towards the Future: Transformation of Food Banking Across Europe
This example illustrates a broader transformation across Europe. The traditional, warehousing and redistribution-centered food bank model is evolving toward something more strategic: real-time coordination, digital traceability, ESG data management, and compliance support for donors.
Therefore, food banks are not only key social actors, but also essential infrastructure within more sustainable food systems.
