Sustainability apps: it’s easy being green

Want to do more for the planet but aren’t sure where to start? Sometimes all the inspiration you need is right there in your pocket. From supporting ethical brands to community composting, these sustainability apps are all about making it easier to establish new habits, measure progress, overcome green fatigue, and stay on track to achieve your sustainable lifestyle goals, one tap at a time.

Joulebug

Saving the environment is serious business but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Great for anyone beginning their green journey, the Joulebug app turns their simple eco-friendly actions into a social game you can play alongside friends and family.  Every time you complete a challenge “buzz it” to earn points, badges and watch your impact totals climb. With dozens of actions across energy, water, waste, transport, food, shopping, office and garden, plus some topical book and movie recommendations, even veteran greenies are bound to find new inspiration.

Shop Ethical!

Something as simple as choosing to buy from ethical companies sends a strong message of support for industries to employ more sustainable and socially responsible practices. And with Shop Ethical! it's easy to find out how hundreds of common Australian supermarket and retail brands are responding to issues like environmental problems, employee safety and fair wages. The comprehensive database keeps a record on everything from household products, food and drink, clothing, electronics and more, so you can make better consumer choices (without facing mountains of research).  

RecycleSmart

We all want to recycle as much as possible, but with different guidelines for different councils, things can get confusing quickly beyond your glass, cans, paper and cardboard. RecycleSmart was developed to demystify the recycling rules in your council area and help divert more recyclable material from landfill. Add your location and search the comprehensive RecycloPedia to find out how to properly dispose of hundreds of tricky household items. RecycleSmart also offers an affordable pickup service for difficult recyclables for a growing number of council partners. For $2 a bag they’ll collect your recyclables at your door and drop them off at the correct resource recovery centre. Download the app to see if they’re servicing your area.

ShareWaste

Do you struggle with long-term solutions to recycling food scraps? Or maybe you want to grow more soil for your vegie patch? ShareWaste uses the power of community networking to make composting easy for everyone and reduce the amount of organic waste going into landfill. If you live in an apartment, use the app to connect with locals who have signed up to receive kitchen scraps for their garden compost, worm farm or chickens. And to keep you motivated, the app measures your impact; composting (instead of landfilling) reduces greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 80%. Go you!

Depop

If you’ve quit fast fashion but want a more convenient second-hand option than rummaging through local op shops, check out Depop. This marketplace for pre-loved clothing, shoes and accessories has millions of active users buying and selling in over 150 countries. Discover streetwear, designer labels and vintage hard-to-finds online while saving (or earning) money and contributing to a planet-friendly circular fashion economy. With one in four Australians aged 15 to 25 on the app, it seems Depop’s playing a significant role in shaping a sustainable shopping mindset for a whole generation.

Let’s reduce our eco-impact, together

Our latest network feature Optus Eco shows you simple ways to reduce your environmental impact.