Most of us are mainly aware of the plastic pollution that is everywhere in the media these days, but there are plenty more environmental issues one could be aware of to decrease negative impacts on the environment. To tackle these issues, we have some green apps.
Understanding where or how to begin, on the other hand, can be difficult at times.
The UN Environment Programme has issued a report listing 21 emerging environmental issues for the 21st Century. Major challenges for the global environment include food, land, freshwater, marine, biodiversity, climate change, energy, waste, and technology. But it also highlights the importance of the need for human behavioural change towards the environment.
It’s here that mobile apps, and particularly green apps, can help us and support us.
The listed eco applications have been selected because they open more opportunities to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle and they cover many topic areas mentioned in the UNEP report such as food waste and greener food choices, sustainable shopping, recycling, reusing, energy-saving, etc. Such apps aid their users in becoming more aware of their usage or ways to prevent wasting food via networking sites or analytics software to identify the true environmental effect of the purchased goods.
So, go through our compilation of the finest eco-friendly apps available now, and give some of them a go-to to transform your good intentions into effective environmentally friendly activities.
All apps are listed in descending order based on the number of reviews and ratings scores in each category.
Food Apps
1. Too Good To Go
The Too Good To Go app offers a solution to food waste by connecting users with local restaurants and shops that have a surplus or leftover food nearing expiration. Users can purchase a “Magic Package” from their chosen location, which contains edible items that would otherwise be discarded. These establishments, such as bakeries or restaurants with daily fresh preparations, sign up to offer these packages. The app displays nearby participating places and pickup times, allowing users to buy a Magic Bag and collect it at the designated time.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.9/5 stars with 411.9K ratings on Apple Store & 4.9/5 stars with 1.43M reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: Approximately 7.3 million active Android users as of August 2023.
- Social Presence:
2. Olio
OLIO is a platform designed to combat food waste by connecting people who have excess food with those who can use it. It goes beyond just food, facilitating the sharing of various items like cutting boards and pet treats. Users can upload pictures and descriptions of items they want to give away, specifying when they’re available for pickup. Others can browse these listings and contact the owner directly to arrange for collection.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.9/5 stars with 55.5K ratings on Apple Store & 4.8/5 stars with 41.9K reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: Approximately 7 million registered users in 60+ countries as of May 2023.
- Social Presence:
3. Happy Cow
Happy Cow is a mobile application designed to assist vegans and vegetarians in finding plant-based dining options such as restaurants, food trucks, cafes, and juice bars. It also serves as a platform for individuals following these dietary lifestyles to connect. Additionally, the app offers recommendations for vegan-friendly holiday destinations.
- Price: £4.99
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.9/5 stars with 29K ratings on Apple Store & 4.8/5 stars with 12K reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: It has 280800 active members as of 25th March 2024. For more website stats, you can click here.
- Social Presence:
4. Kitche
Kitche is a handy tool designed to combat food waste at home by helping users keep track of their kitchen inventory. By simply scanning grocery receipts, users can add items to their virtual pantry within the app. They can then set reminders for items approaching their expiry dates, reducing the likelihood of food being wasted.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 3.7/5 stars with 73 ratings on the Apple Store & 3.7/5 stars with 69 reviews on the Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 10k+ downloads on Google Play Store
- Social Presence:
5. Nature Hub
NatureHub is a group network that connects individuals with organic, socially conscious small shops or organisations to aid them in managing to live healthy and sustainable lives. From negligible waste shops to fitness centres, you can find a variety of responsible and sustainable small companies via this platform to support your eco-friendly lifestyle. NatureHub too has a thriving website where customers can get the support they require to facilitate the shift to a safe, healthier approach and interact with a wide spectrum of conscious clients. NatureHub, which places a strong emphasis on society, gives users all the resources they need to start their original site or vlog on the network, encouraging everyone to be the revolution they want to see.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.5/5 stars with 13 ratings on the Apple Store
- Social Presence:
Sustainability Apps
6. Ecosia
Ecosia is a search engine with a unique mission: planting trees through online searches. They pledge at least 80% of their ad revenue profits to tree-planting efforts in Burkina Faso. By using their service, users can contribute to this cause, and a tree counter feature shows the impact of their searches. Ecosia’s servers operate on 200% renewable energy, making it an environmentally friendly choice.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.7/5 stars with 3.3K ratings on Apple Store & 4.5/5 stars with 178K reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: Approximately 20 million active users per month as of March 2023.
- Social Presence:
7. Love Clean Streets
Love Clean Streets is a mobile app designed for residents in the UK to report environmental concerns in their neighbourhoods. Users can easily document issues like graffiti, fly-tipping, or potholes by taking a photo within the app. The app utilises the device’s GPS to pinpoint the location of the problem, which users can adjust if needed. After selecting the appropriate category and providing a brief description, the report is submitted. The relevant local council is then notified, and users can track the progress of the resolution through updates provided within the app.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.5/5 stars with 4.4K ratings on Apple Store & 4.3/5 stars with 743 reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 50K+ Google Play Store instals
- Social Presence:
8. Litterati
Litterati is on a quest to build a massive worldwide registry of litter, and they will require our help documenting what we collect. You must add the litter after posting a photo of it. You could use the app’s built-in tags, such as plastic, empty bottles, and cigars, or you can create your own sort. They recommend using the C.O.M.B classification scheme while tagging: Categories; Objects; Brands; and Materials. If you find a Starbucks coffee mug, for instance, you will mark the photo with the following tags: Category – Coffee, Object – Container, Material – Paper/Plastic, and Brand – Starbucks.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.1/5 stars with 124 ratings on the Apple Store & 4.9/5 stars with 622 reviews on the Google Play Store.
- Social Presence:
9. Grid Carbon
GridCarbon measures the “carbon level” as energy demand fluctuates all day. It accomplishes this by linking directly to the National Grid database server which is updated every five minutes. The amount of CO2 generated per kWh of energy utilised is referred to as carbon output. This implies you could use the software to schedule your energy use, such as doing the laundry, for off-peak hours when the carbon emission is lower. As a result, you’ll have a smaller carbon footprint, which is pretty awesome, correct? The software is divided into two parts. A speed limit indicator shows how much power each plant is currently generating or how many total emissions it has. When you rotate your device to landscape orientation, you’ll see two graphs: an interactive map that shows power production by form and a carbon footprint column chart. Both show information from the previous 24 hours. It’s great to play around with the forms of energy and turn them up and down to check where we get the majority of our power at various times of each day.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.5/5 stars with 59 ratings on Apple Store & 10k+ downloads on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 10K+ instals on Google Play Store
- Social Presence:
- Twitter: 2.9K Followers
10. ethy
ethy has a free app that does all the research and verification of brands’ sustainable claims for you. It provides a huge number of brands available in the UK in most categories from fashion to food, drinks, and even utilities. Search on ethy by category, keyword, or sustainability area such as ‘plastic free’, ‘clean beauty’, ‘vegan’, ‘female-led’, and many more. The best bit is that all brands on ethy are certified ethical, and each brand has a fully transparent sustainability profile. The app also tells you which UN Sustainable Development Goals each brand contributes to. The map feature of the app allows you to find sustainable brands near you too. The app has a whole area for sustainable guides and living tips, with useful information on making sustainable swaps and incorporating good habits into your lifestyle. You can even turn on the app’s push notifications to know when new guides are available.
- Price: Free
- Devices: Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.3/5 stars with 26 reviews on the Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 1K+ downloads from Google Play Store
- Social Presence:
11. Zerofy
The Zerofy app allows users to automatically track and understand their household carbon dioxide emissions and reduce them by shifting to low-carbon alternatives on their journey to a zero-carbon, fully electrified home. Each main source of your household CO2 emissions is automatically tracked in real-time—in one place. The app then provides personalised, actionable recommendations for reducing your household’s CO2 footprint, and provides granular data so you can continually optimise. The recommended actions include installing a heat pump, air drying laundry, turning the thermostat slightly down, using LED lights, and decreasing meat consumption. Zerofy is the app for your journey toward the home of the future: fully electrified and zero-carbon.
- Price: Free
- Devices: Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4/5 stars with 4 reviews on Trustpilot
- Social Presence:
12. Meteoprog
Meteoprog is your gateway to a more eco-conscious lifestyle, providing not only accurate weather forecasts but also real-time air quality updates. The innovative air pollution index, powered by a unique and precise algorithm, allows you to monitor the air you breathe in your city. With Meteoprog, you can make informed, eco-friendly decisions every day, whether you’re planning outdoor activities or simply staying aware of environmental conditions. Stay connected to nature, protect your well-being, and embrace a healthier, greener future with every forecast.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 5 stars with 1 rating on the Apple Store & 5 stars with 2 reviews on the UK Google Play Store.
- Social Media: N/A
Vehicle Apps
13. BlaBlaCar
BlaBlaCar is a global ridesharing app that connects drivers with passengers travelling to the same destination, offering an alternative to expensive train fares and reducing carbon footprints. Users create accounts with short bios and pictures, and passengers specify their departure and arrival locations and times. The app displays available rides, rates, and seat availability. Passengers can book seats and make payments via the app, which are released once the ride is completed. Drivers simply list their pickup and drop-off locations and wait for passengers to book seats, with cancellations notified to all parties.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.7/5 stars with 201 ratings on Apple Store & 4.7/5 stars with 2.09 million reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 26 million active members (according to the BlaBlaCar website)
- Social Presence:
14. PlugShare
PlugShare is a mobile app designed to alleviate concerns about range anxiety for electric car drivers by providing information about nearby charging stations. With over 160,000 charging stations in the USA and Canada and an additional 275,000 globally, PlugShare covers a wide range of locations, particularly in Europe and North America. Each charging station is labelled and rated, indicating factors such as charging speed and plug compatibility. Users can view details for each station, including whether it is currently in use.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.7/5 stars with 104.6K ratings on Apple Store & 4.6/5 stars with 33.4K reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 1,000,000+ instals on Google (no other info found)
- Social Presence:
15. Zipcar
Zipcar offers convenient car rental options, allowing users to rent vehicles in minutes using their mobile app. The service includes technology for locking and unlocking cars via the app, providing fast rental solutions in users’ areas. Zipcar also offers electric vehicle options to reduce pollution concerns. Two types of cars are available for booking: Standard for round-trip journeys and Flex for one-way trips, with Flex vehicles requiring bookings only 15 minutes in advance. Zipcar operates in the UK, USA, and Turkey, offering a flexible and eco-friendly alternative to traditional car ownership.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.5/5 stars with 71.5K ratings on Apple Store & 3.8/5 stars with 48.4K reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 1,000,000+ instals on Google (no other info found)
- Social Presence:
Exchange/Reuse Apps
16. Plantum
Plantum helps identify 33,000 plant species, diagnose their states, and give specified care advice. The recommendations include what soil to choose, how to water, and fertilise plants, setting the appropriate temperature conditions, and more. Also, the app contains a lot of articles and videos from botanist experts that help to improve user knowledge about the plant world. To use Plantum, take a photo of the indoor or outdoor plant. After that, you will see the description of the plant and tips on how to care for it. Also, you can set reminders to water, report, etc.
- Price: Free trial followed by a subscription plan of £35.99 if Choose Yearly subscription. otherwise £6.49/Week.
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.6/5 stars with 95K ratings on Apple Store & 4.1/5 stars with 39.5K reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: Approximately 8 million users worldwide.
- Social Presence:
17. Tiptapp
TipTapp instantly connects users with thousands of helpers who are ready to assist them with moving, delivering, shopping, or recycling. These helpers are everyday people with cars and available time to lend a hand when needed. You can get quick, same-day help at a time and place that suits you. Just set your own affordable price for the service, and make secure payments directly through the app upon completion of the task.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.7/5 stars with 15.1K ratings on Apple Store & 4.9/5 stars with 4.75k reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: Approximately 26 million users in a year.
- Social Presence:
18. Freegle
Do you have any items that you no longer require? Freegle will figure out a way to get rid of it. If you need anything, Freegle will connect you with those who are willing to give it to you. It’s “internet dating for things,” as Freegle calls it.
- Install the software or go to their webpage to get going. Give Freegle your details, what you may have or need, and a mailing address before publishing your advertisement.
- The ad would only be displayed to your regional Freegle group to keep things appropriate.
- A Freegler will give you a text and coordinate details if they see anything they want or can support you with.
- You could also write posts regarding your Freegling adventures on the chat forum.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 4.3/5 stars with 439 ratings on Apple Store & 4.3/5 stars with 1.01K reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 100,000+ instals on Google & over 2m members according to Wikipedia\Social Presence:
19. Fat Llama
Fat Llama links individuals in need of things with others who can help them. It’s ideal for when you only require something temporarily and do not want to keep it. You can rent anything from a snowblower to a rental car, but multimedia and videography devices appear to be the most common. Their software is extremely easy to use.
- Upload a photo, give a short explanation, and value your product by the day, week, or even year if you have anything to lend for that period.
- If you’re searching for something to borrow, use the app to check or browse. When you see anything you want, contact the lender to schedule a pick-up or drop-off.
The best part about Fat Llama is that it comes with free insurance up to £25,000! Simply take a photo or video of the product in use before handing it to the borrower as proof of its functionality so that you’re covered.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 3.9/5 stars with 579 ratings on the Apple Store & 1.5/5 stars with 40 reviews on Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 1K+ instals on Google (no other info found)
- Social Presence:
20. Regain
The Regain app encourages you to reuse your discarded and outdated clothing, and as a token of appreciation, you receive cash-off vouchers. It is very much similar to a goodwill store in today’s world.
- To be eligible for the rewards, you must contribute a minimum of ten products.
- Put the goods in a box and paste a free delivery sticker.
- Then drop the parcel off at a nearby drop-off location.
ReGAIN filters through the clothing and recycles as much as possible. If an object can’t be saved, it’s sent off to a waste-to-energy factory to generate electricity, some of which would be used to make new garments – this is how the revolving economies work. All revenues are donated to the British Red Cross charity.
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS, Android
- Ratings & Reviews: 3.9/5 stars with 130 ratings on the Apple Store & 4.9/5 stars with 58 reviews on the Google Play Store.
- Number of Users: 10,000+ instals on Google (no other info found)
- Social Presence:
20 Top Apps to Tackle 21 Environmental Challenges
Tackling the 21 emerging environmental issues for the 21st century is becoming easier and more achievable with the listed eco-friendly apps here that will certainly encourage users to live greener. Environmental awareness including, being environmentally friendly, is not as difficult as it seems, particularly if you have access to technology that can help you make greener choices.
The apps mentioned above would assist you in changing your everyday behaviour and improving your actions for a better world. Choose your favourites and begin enjoying them right away as all of them are downloadable for free.
If you want us to add a suggestion here based on your experience, please get in touch with us!
Author Profile
- Online Media & PR Strategist
- Blogger and Educator by Passion | Senior Online Media & PR Strategist at ClickDo Ltd. | Fascinated to Write Lifestyle Blogs in News & Education I have completed a journalism summer course at the London School of Journalism and manage various blogs.
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