The fight against food waste is about to take a crucial step with the imminent approval of the Law on the Prevention of Food Loss and Waste in Spain.

The text has already been submitted to the Senate by the Congress of Deputies and is in its final phase of processing, with key dates that mark the path to its entry into force: the deadline for amendments and veto proposals ends on 7 February, and 26 March is the deadline for processing in the Senate. From the publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE), supermarkets and other actors in the large-scale food distribution sector will have one year to adapt to the new obligations.

An important law that has supermarkets as a key player

In Spain, 25 million kilograms of food are wasted weekly, of which more than 80% are unused products, according to data extracted from the foundations of the Law. These worrying figures were the driving force behind the legislation that sets specific objectives: reducing per capita waste at retail and consumer level by 50% by 2030, and food losses during production by 20%.

Supermarkets are key players in achieving these goals because they are located at a strategic point in the food chain, connecting producers and consumers. By managing large volumes of food, they have the capacity to generate a significant impact on reducing waste, both in the management of their own surpluses and in raising awareness among employees and customers.

For this reason, the law establishes a series of responsibilities for supermarkets. One of the most important, detailed in Article 6, indicates that those establishments in the food chain with a surface area of ​​more than 1,300 m² will be obliged to sign donation agreements with social entities, guaranteeing that food that cannot be sold, but is still fit for consumption, is destined for those who need it most.

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They should also promote the sale of products with imperfections or those close to their best-before date, and encourage sustainable practices that reduce waste at the source.

Restaurants must also play a part

Restaurants and other food outlets will also have to adapt to the changes, ensuring, as much as possible, that no food goes to waste, and that customers are able to take their uneaten food home.

Hoteles Santos, a Spanish hotel chain with more than 50 years of history, operating in key locations such as Valencia, as well as Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga, amongst others, has launched its new Loyalty Club, a renewed program designed to reward the loyalty of its guests with exclusive benefits. Under the motto “Your trip, our care”, this new club offers special discounts and personalised benefits based on the accumulated nights of stay, without the need for physical cards.

With this initiative, Hoteles Santos reinforces its commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, providing a flexible and accessible rewards system. Guests will be able to enjoy discounts on accommodation and other services, access to exclusive offers and additional privileges depending on their level within the club.

The Santos Hotels Loyalty Club has been designed to adapt to the needs of each guest, rewarding their preference with advantages that make each stay an even more pleasant experience. Registration is simple and free, and allows access to benefits from the first reservation.

With this launch, Hoteles Santos reaffirms its commitment to quality, innovation and personalized service, consolidating its position as one of the main hotel chains in Spain.

A Europol-supported operation, led by German authorities and involving law enforcement from eight countries, including both the National Police and Guardia Civil in Spain, has led to the takedown of the two largest cybercrime forums in the world.

The two platforms, Cracked and Nulled, had more than 10 million users in total. Both of these underground economy forums offered a quick entry point into the cybercrime scene. These sites worked as one-stop shops and were used not only for discussions on cybercrime but also as marketplaces for illegal goods and cybercrime-as-a-service, such as stolen data, malware or hacking tools. Investigators estimate that suspects earned EUR 1 million in criminal profits.

The operation took place from 28 to 30 January and led to:

• 2 suspects arrested
• 7 properties searched
• 17 servers and over 50 electronic devices seized
• Around EUR 300 000 of cash and cryptocurrencies seized

Throughout the course of the action day, 12 domains within the platforms Cracked and Nulled were seized. Other associated services were also taken down; including a financial processor named Sellix which was used by Cracked, and a hosting service called StarkRDP, which was promoted on both of the platforms and run by the same suspects.