The 10 Best Apps That Will Help You Live More Sustainably

Sustainability is the buzz word that’s currently circulating the internet. Everyone wants to be more sustainable, but for many it seems like an impossible task, as they merely just don’t know how. In the digital age, there is an app for everything, but now there are apps that can help you to really try and live more sustainably. We have 10 of the best apps that you can download that will help you make a difference to our planet, proving that it really doesn’t take a lot of time, effort or money to be more sustainable – it is now just one click away from being right there at your fingertips. Here are our top 10 apps that will mean that you’ve got a handy resource in your pocket at all times.

1. Forest

Forest encourages those who find it hard to put down their phone to get off of Instagram and focus on whatever they are doing – work, studying or spending time with friends is all done better when you are not looking at your phone. Whenever you want to stay focused, simply open the app, plant a virtual tree, set a timer and watch the tree grow. If you look at your phone during this time however, you will kill your virtual tree. Also “Forest team partners with a real-tree-planting organization, Trees for the Future, to plant real trees on the earth. When our users spend virtual coins they earn in Forest on planting real trees, Forest team donates our partner and create orders of planting”.

We at Bags of Ethics^TM are currently researching which are best at sequestering carbon, in South India at one of our partner manufacturing sites– if you have any tips or scientific recommendations get in touch with us on [email protected]

2. Good on You

Good on You is an app that shows you just how ethical your favourite brands really are. It gives you the ability to search for a brand, and gives it a rating based on people, the planet and animals. They give a brand rating out of five for each category as well as an overall score. Brands are rated “we avoid”, “not good enough”, “It’s a start”, “good” and “great”. The app also has dozens of style edits that help you discover ethical fashion brands. For example, Topshop, who are a client of Bags of Ethics^TM have been given the rating “it’s a start”.

3. Oroeco

Oroeco allows you to track your impact on the climate, and allows you to see how every part of your life effects global warming, from driving and flying, to your eating, shopping and home energy efficiency choices. It also helps to reduce your carbon footprint by offering tips to adapt your way of life in order to make it more sustainable. One of the ways is reusing and re-wearing your clothes and other items.

The Bags of Ethics promise is to support products that can be reused 5,000 times.

4. Bolt

Bolt is a new and interesting alternative to Uber. As well as paying their drivers more due to lower commission rates, all bolt rides in Europe are now carbon neutral because of their support of carbon-offsetting projects.

5. OLIO

OLIO is an app that is designed to reduce food waste. They connect neighbours to share things rather than throw them away – you simply add items to OLIO, set your location, get notified when you have a request, check out their profile and see if you are happy to share, and then feel good that you helped reduce your own waste, and make someone else’s day.

Olio is also another client of Bags of Ethics^TM, for whom we created some ethically and sustainably made tote bags.

6. HappyCow

HappyCow is an app that helps you find vegetarian and vegan restaurants and cafes nearby. It is perfect for those who are travelling and trying to reduce their animal product consumption.

One of our manufacturing partners Supreme Creations is an organic and Vegan supplier

7. Tap

Tap allows you to find water refill stations near you, anywhere in the world. This means that you will never have to buy a single-use plastic bottle again, all you need to do is bring your phone and your reusable bottle, and you are good to go.

Have you seen our recycled cotton Bags of Ethics bags around – a great way of reducing the water consumption within virgin cotton.

8. Think Dirty

Think Dirty is an app for any makeup lover. It allows you learn about any toxic or unethical ingredients in all of your cosmetics and toiletries by simply giving them a scan. It also offers sustainable alternatives to your favourite products.

All our inks are REACH compliant and don’t contain phthalates which can be toxic for waterways and the environment

9. GoodGuide

This app makes it simple and easy to find products that are ethical and environmentally friendly whilst you are on the go. It provides you with scientific health, environmental and social ratings on a huge database of products. You can browse ingredients, the nutritional value, and the health effects of chemicals and then discover easy alternatives.

We’d love to be featured on this app – anyone know anyone there?

10. JouleBug

JouleBug allows you to discover new ways to go green, by making changes to your everyday habits. You can compete in local and national challenges to see how is ‘the greenest’, and can track your achievements as you embark on your journey to sustainability.

What challenge do you want to set yourself? Our challenge to you is what are the most innovative ways you can reuse your reusable bags when they are really, really old. Do you want to use them as compost bags? Or cut them into dishcloths?

These apps offer you assistance in every area of your life, and will allow you to become more sustainably minded. For more sustainability tips, check out our Instagram for daily tips, tricks and sustainability news updates.