Best Apps to Help You Live Sustainably
Environmental change is the subject of much discussion in the tech world, with new non-profits and companies are springing up all over the world to try and combat global warming. The good news is, you don’t need to go to extreme lengths to live more sustainably – and your smartphone can help.
Here are some of our favourite green apps which you can download today…
Too Good to Go
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: free
Did you know one third of all food produced is wasted? Designed to try and tackle this mounting issue, Too Good to Go is a sustainable alternative to your usual takeaway apps.
It’s almost impossible for restaurants, cafés and bakeries to sell all the food they prepare fresh each day. To prevent it from being thrown away, these eateries can register on Too Good to Go, where they sell it at a discounted price. So far, big brands taking part include Caffé Nero, Toby Carvery and Novotel, but more companies are joining these ‘Waste Warriors’ every week.
To track down your next meal, just create an account, pop in your location and then scroll through the food on offer. All the food listed is fresh and completely edible, as well as considerably cheaper than it would be in-store.
Oroeco
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: free
Lead by an award-winning team of scientists (including a Nobel Prize winner), this app is the world’s best carbon footprint calculator. Oroeco enables you to track the sustainability of your lifestyle day by day, covering everything from where you shop to what you eat, your mode of transport and your home utilities.
Once you’ve inputted your data, Oroeco will provide personalised tips on how you can save money and make greener choices along the way. You can even compare your carbon footprint with that of your friends, as the app will show you the measure of CO2 emissions you save by changing your habits.
Freecycle
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: free
Known for the sustainable motto ‘trash nothing’, Freecycle is a successful grassroots organisation dedicated to reducing landfill and waste, with over nine million members around the world. The app is a handy platform where you both list and acquire all manner of things – including clothes, books and appliances, but also cumbersome objects like furniture and tools.
Every item posted on Freecycle is completely free. You can even arrange for larger objects to be collected directly, and put out requests in your location for anything you’re specifically in need of.
Good on You
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: free
Focused on shedding light on the fast fashion industry, this app has been making waves since actress and activist Emma Watson stated she was one of its biggest supporters earlier in 2019.
Good on You catalogues popular clothing brands, and then ranks the sustainability of these companies according to three key factors: people, planet and animals. They look into the labour conditions and supply chain of the workers, the carbon emissions of each brand’s resources and the use of animal-based materials like fur, leather and angora.
Every brand is then given a rating out of five for each of these factors, based on information gained from the brands themselves, as well as independent research bodies. If you’re big on fashion but you want to be as informed as possible about the impact of what you buy – Good on You is the perfect tool for you.
Vinted
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: free
Vinted is a popular fashion app where you can swap, sell and buy second-hand clothes.
On Vinted you’ll find vintage items from big name brands, as well as your high street favourites, so whether it’s a winter coat, a new suit or a party dress you’re after, there’s no need to buy brand new.
Sellers are listed with a star rating out of five, as well as reviews from previous buyers, so you can even see how reliable they are before you purchase.
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