These apps make it easier to see your footprint, make smarter choices, and connect with others doing the same. From fighting food waste to tracking your energy, here are 10 ways to put sustainability in the palm of your hand.
1. Yayzy Footprint Calculator
What it does: Tracks the carbon emissions of your spending. It connects to your bank or payment cards and helps you understand how purchases contribute to your carbon footprint. You also get suggestions for greener alternatives.
Why it helps: Awareness is often the first step to change. Knowing the footprint of your spending helps you make more sustainable decisions over time.
2. GridCarbon
What it does: Lets you see in almost real time how “clean” the UK electricity grid is and how much of the power being used is generated from renewables vs fossil fuels.
Why it helps: The UK has had days powered almost entirely by renewables. If you time heavy electricity use (washing machines, electric vehicle charging, etc.) for when the grid is greener, you reduce your carbon impact.
3. Ecosia
What it does: A search engine that runs on renewable energy and plants trees. Every search contributes toward planting trees globally.
Why it helps: It’s an easy swap - it works the same as other search engines (like Google, Yahoo and Bing) but instead supports tree planting and clean energy.
4. Voltaware
What it does: Shows real-time energy data, including appliance-level usage. You can see your usage in daily, weekly, and monthly breakdowns, get cost and carbon footprint snapshots, and receive tailored tips for reducing waste.
Why it helps: It gives you visibility into which devices in your home are the real energy hogs. Once you see that, you can act by adjusting usage, replacing inefficient appliances, or shifting usage to off-peak times. That often means lower bills and lower emissions.
5. Too Good To Go
What it does: Lets you rescue unsold food from shops, restaurants and cafés at a discount, so it doesn’t go to waste.
Why it helps: The UK throws away 9.5 million tonnes of food every year. With Too Good To Go, you could save a bag of pastries from your local bakery for £3 — and stop them going in the bin.
6. OLIO
What it does: Connects people locally to share surplus food and household goods instead of throwing them away.
Why it helps: Encourages reuse and reduces waste, which is one of the biggest contributors to environmental damage. It also helps build local connections between neighbours.
7. Good On You
What it does: Rates fashion brands on environmental, labour, and animal welfare criteria so you choose more ethical clothing and beauty brands.
Why it helps: Fashion has a huge environmental and social impact. Knowing which brands are better makes it easier to avoid greenwashing and demand change.
8. Refill Return Cup Station
What it does: Helps you find places (cafés, shops) that let you refill water bottles, buy with less packaging, or use reusable containers.
Why it helps: Reduces single-use plastic waste and supports more sustainable habits in everyday life.
9. National Trust
What it does: Helps you find walking routes, heritage sites, gardens, and nature reserves across the UK. Includes maps, opening times, and seasonal highlights.
Why it helps: Encourages people to get outside, explore heritage and natural landscapes, and deepen their connection with nature. Whether it’s finding a new local walk or planning a weekend trip, the National Trust makes it easier to live more sustainably by choosing time in nature over more resource-intensive activities.
10. Commons
What it does: Lets you see expert-rated sustainable brands, avoid greenwashing, and choose more intentional spending.
Why it helps: The market is full of borderline claims. Apps like Commons help you cut through the noise so your money supports products and brands aligned with your values.
Tips for Using These Apps Well
- Don’t feel you need all 10. Pick 2–3 that match what you want to change (food waste? energy? fashion?).
- Use them to gain awareness first, then act. For example, track carbon emissions, then adjust your spending habits.
- Look out for overlaps: if two apps help with the same issue, focus on the one with better usability or local relevance.
- If possible, support apps that share data or connect with UK conservation and community groups - it helps scale their impact.
Whether you’re rescuing a meal, spotting a swift, or switching your searches to plant trees, these small digital choices add up. They show that sustainability doesn’t have to be abstract - it can be practical, local, and right in the palm of your hand.
Which of these apps would you try first - or is there another sustainability app you already use and love?
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