Today, it is generally accepted that we need to be more consciously connected to how our actions impact the environments around us.
There hasn’t always been such a widespread acceptance of environmental movements, but as the human impact on our world becomes increasingly evident younger generations are becoming more involved.
A lot of this increased interest can be attributed to the growing availability of science-based environmental education. However, technology has also played an important role in this process by making it easier for everyone to participate in the global green movement.
While technology itself can come with some environmental baggage, there are ways to put technology to work for you, helping to improve your own efficiency, so you can participate in bigger things like making our planet a better place for future generations. Here are four free apps that can help you do just that:
1. Wellwith by Wellwith PBC
Wellwith is a revolutionary app that creates incentives for you and others to reuse and recycle. Do you take your own coffee mug to your favorite local roaster?
Or do you take your own bags with you when you go shopping at the corner market? With Wellwith, you can get rewards for the little things that can potentially have a big impact on our planet. This app is currently exclusive to iOS devices.
2. Recycle Coach by Municipal Media
This app seems simple on the surface, but sometimes simplicity is the key. Generally speaking, we all know our garbage and recycling schedules, but every once in a while we’ll still miss it.
And it often seems like we can miss this ritual during the worst of times, leaving us with bins of overflowing waste. Recycle Coach communicates with your local waste processors to help you remember when your next pickup is, or plan ahead when you know you’ll miss a date.
This is a great helper during the holidays when your schedule is busy and your municipal waste center may have special hours! Currently, this app is exclusive to iOS devices.
3. Code Check by Codecheck AG
CodeCheck can help you make healthy shopping decisions and a whole lot more. This app allows you to scan barcodes and instantly receive important health and environmentally conscious information about different products.
You can even setup a profile for yourself to receive special notifications about possible allergens and other ingredients that may conflict with your personal preferences. This app is available for both android and iOS devices.
Sometimes we feel like we want to do more, but it can be hard to know where to start. Go Green can help you take off in the right direction because it offers simple tips and tricks that can help you make better decisions.
They’ve even gamified your participation, giving you some fun encouragement to participate more throughout your day. This app is currently exclusive to iOS devices.
TIP: If you’re trying to change your sustainable habits for the long haul, it’s smartest to start with small goals and slowly build them up. Similar to starting a workout routine, you’ll see the best results (and feel the most accomplished) by setting realistic goals and not overdoing it.
Start by downloading just one or two of the above apps (not all of them at once) and setting small weekly goals with them. Track your progress in the apps. Eventually, you can increase goals and download more apps once you’ve made a habit out of your new routine (it usually takes about 66 days for something to become a habit).
While it might seem counterproductive to use technology devices, such as cellphones, to help us take care of the planet, it’s actually a very effective way to help us all stay more mindful of our everyday actions towards the earth.
Although the creation of ever-evolving technology is responsible for some of the environmental issues we face today, we still need to embrace the technology and leverage its full potential. It can offer new and innovative ways to help everyday people make habits out of being more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Whether you’re looking at ways to use smart tech devices in your home, making your business more green, or just working on creating better habits for your own wellbeing and peace of mind, these phone apps can help you reach those goals.
