In today’s modern world we rely on our mobile devices more than ever before, from communicating with people and catching up on the latest social media gossip, to using your phone as an alarm or clock. Whatever the reason, our phones are never too far from our reach. A study run by Exploding Topics, shows that on average, people spend 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phones per day, and the majority of this time is spent on apps we have downloaded. In and amongst your social media and gaming apps, there are a few hidden gems, which have been developed with sustainability and the circular economy in mind!
The nation is becoming more environmentally conscious, as we try build a better future for our planet, and now there are ways we can do this through our beloved mobile phones. Here are just a few innovative mobile apps that are saving the planet.
LitterLotto
The eagle eyed, regular readers of our blogs may recognise this name due to our competition earlier in the year – but here is a low-down on what LitterLotto is and the wonders it is doing across the globe! The LitterLotto is a litter picking app, encouraging people to collect and bin discarded waste by giving them chances to win cash prizes! The process is a simple one – use the app to take a picture of litter as you place it in a bin. Each time you submit a new piece of litter it’s another chance to win. The app gives you chances to win instant prizes on the spot, as well as entering you into their weekly cash draws to win £1,000, each piece of rubbish binned and snapped, is another entry to win!
The app is a worldwide platform for keen litter pickers, and sees winners across the globe get their hands on cash by the simple action of litter picking. The planet is a winner and so are you! ‘Bin it to win it’.
Too Good To Go
We are all aware of the growing issue of food waste, and the damage it is causing to the planet, Too Good To Go is a mobile and online app trying to tackle this issue. An app which can be used by both businesses and consumers to sell or buy surplus food at discounted prices, to help reduce food waste. Too Good To Go currently has 7 million users and 16,000 businesses who are buying and selling ‘goodie bags’ of excess food which would otherwise go to waste, whilst still being in great condition. From big brands and supermarkets like Greggs, Morrisons and Harvester to your local fish and chip shop or cafe – there are many businesses offering app users great deals on their mystery bags full of delicious treats! Upon downloading the app and entering your location, you can see the amazing deals to be had in your area, and can reserve a goodie bag from one of the Too Good To Go businesses, and collect at your allocated time. Tasty treats, at a fraction of the original price – all whilst saving the planet from an abundance of food waste. What’s not to love?
Olio
Olio is an app that helps us reduce, reuse and recycle, the 3 important R’s to a healthy planet! Used worldwide, Olio is the app that lets you pass on what you no longer need to people who live nearby. This can be through donations or loans to your local community, Olio is a great online platform to find / give items, without unnecessary travel. The diverse nature of the apps means you can find a wide variety of items from furniture and clothes, to food and pet supplies. Olio’s advice to its users is ‘“If it isn’t useful for me… could it be for someone else?” – if the answer is yes, upload it to their app and find the item a new home. If you are looking for something to add to your humble abode, before buying new, look on the app and see if you can get it from a neighbour and save it from a life in landfill!
DePop, Vinted etc.
Whilst Olio is helping you find and sell unwanted goods in your local community, apps such as DePop and Vinted allow you to send a received nationwide. The online selling platforms give users to chance to sell their unwanted clothes, shoes, bags and other fashion items, to other users across the globe. Textile waste is at an all-time high, with landfills littered with garments which still had plenty of life in them. This is where apps like Depop and Vinted can help! Whether you are a seller or a buyer, you can make or save money with the 2 fashion selling apps, whilst also keeping it out of the waste pile! Win, win!
Ecosia
We have all heard of Google and Bing, and whilst they may be currently our default search engine, Ecosia is doing the same job, whilst also making the planet a better place. Ecosia describes itself as ‘the search engine that plants trees – a better planet in each search’, so how does it work? Much like Google, you can use Ecosia to find the answers to your online questions, and when you make an account with Ecosia you can help to keep a tally of your number of searches and after approximately 45 searches, Ecosia commits to planting a tree. Each tree planted is helping to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, as well as its many other environmentally friendly benefits and qualities. If Ecosia was used as much as Google, it could absorb 15% of all global CO2 emissions. Why not make the switch and plant a tree or 2 with your daily searches?
PlugShare
A great app for electric car users – PlugShare. Whilst electric and hybrid cars are becoming more popular, finding a charging port seems to often be a struggle for many, and needless travel – and thus carbon emissions are often made as a result. PlugShare has the answers! By entering your location, the app will provide you with a map and list of the nearest EV charging stations to you – cutting out aimless driving and helping cut vehicle-made pollution. The app helps plan your route to your chosen point, organised in the most efficient way. The app even gives information about other features in that area, e.g. toilet facilities, parking charges and amenities. PlugShare is the must-have app for electric car owners!
Save the planet – one app at a time!
This list is by no means an exhaustive one, there are hundreds of eco-friendly apps out there, that are doing their bit to support a cleaner, greener, planet. Open your app store today and download a few, start making a difference in a few easy, effortless steps. We spend such a large proportion of our time on our mobile phones, let’s start using this time for good and help make a positive impact on our planet!