I (Emma) don’t know about you, but over this [swearword redacted] of a year, I feel like my productivity has gone right down. Leaving aside the arguments about toxic productivity and that we are worth more than what we get done in a day, this has been hard for me.
It hasn’t just been the pandemic, but rather a lot of personal stuff that hasn’t got any easier throughout the lockdown period, which for me is basically from March 16th and will continue until my grandad gets the vaccine. (This is not an arguement against the lockdown, which I fully support.)
And this productivity vacuum hasn’t just been limited to work. In fact, I’ve been less green in all the ways you’d expect (buying packaged food and takeaways) and ways you might not (using the dryer more).
So how can we be more green with less time and energy? Well, this is the topic of this article. Apps.
Ecosia
I feel like we bang on about Ecosia a lot but they use their ad revenue to plant trees in places that need them most. They’ve planted over 114 million as of writing.
They’ll also put a green leaf icon next to websites that supply eco products or have sustainable practices.
Forest
On a similar note (and because this post is focused on productivity), Forest will encourage you to put down your phone for a set amount of time while a cartoon tree grows on screen.
It also plants IRL trees through partnering with charity Trees for the Future.
Too Good to Go/ Olio
I’ve put these together because they both fight food waste by picking up stuff that someone else doesn’t want; Olio from other people and TGTG from restaurants and shops.
I haven’t used them since early March because #shielding, but if you feel confident, you can do contact-free pick-ups from people’s houses or in the same way that you’d usually buy food in the store. (Follow the advice on the apps.)
Now, there are a lot of things on Pinterest that aren’t eco, but it’s a great place to search for vegan recipes, upcycle tutorials, and zero waste tips. Approach with caution. It’s addictive.
BorrowBox
Can’t get to your library or a charity shop? Want to avoid buying books online with all the pointless packaging? With BorrowBox, you can borrow eBooks and audiobooks for free without leaving the house.
[As always, second-hand books can be bought from World of Books and new books can be bought from the independent and Southsea-based Pigeon Books, who wrap them in paper and deliver on bike.]
Good On You
We all know that Tamara likes the Ethical Consumer, but what if that was in app form and scored clothing brands based on their impact on the people, animals, and the environment.
I haven’t used it because I don’t buy a lot of clothes new – one band t-shirt this year – but I thought it might be good for people who like clothes shopping, as if they recommended you avoid the brand, they’ll give you better options.
reGAIN
On a related note, reGAIN encourages donating clothes, shoes, and accessories you no longer wear to the British Red Cross in exchange for discounts on new items.
Weather App
This is something I use all the time and the best part is that you don’t have to free up space because it’s already on all of our phones. My most common use of it is to check if it will rain, so that I can put the washing out at night and bring it in the next day.
Other uses could include checking if you can walk somewhere rather than taking the car, seeing the best day to go for a bike ride, or using bad weather as an excuse not to see someone you don’t like when the lockdown lifts.
Hopefully, this will help you be more eco without much effort. Let us know in the comments below if you have any other app suggestions.