Four apps for women who want to live a more ethical and sustainable life.

Let’s be honest. When we hear about global warming it can too often feel like one giant crisis with no tangible solution.

Sometimes we ignore it and just think, “Well, hopefully science can fix that one!” Or, “A carbon tax would be good… But I wouldn’t actually have to pay for it would I?”

We mostly feel helpless.

Sometimes, though, we can make a difference.

We have the most powerful tool right in our pockets: Money! Or lack thereof.

We are consumers. And it is consumers who ultimately have the power to force businesses to change their ways and go green.

Here are four feel-good free apps that are going to help you lead a more sustainable lifestyle. They will educate you on what products are good, what products are bad and will answer the undying question: what colour bin does my takeaway coffee cup go in?

A post shared by Good On You: Ethical Fashion (@goodonyou_app) on Jun 10, 2017 at 1:45am PDT

Good On You

Not to alarm you, but the fashion industry is the second biggest world polluter.

“Good On You” is here to help. This app provides you with all the information you need to know about how your favourite brands are treating their workers, animals, and the environment.

They rate over 1,100 fashion brands from “We Avoid” to “Great” and gives you a detailed explanation as to how they got to each individual rating.

Good news: Country Road, Witchery, Zara and Nike have all been rated on the more positive side.

It also offers discount codes for those brands that are highly rated!

Maybe it is time to redefine the word ‘bargain’.

RecycleSmart

Want to know how you can recycle your old phones? Where to put your pizza box that still has food in it? How to dispose of your old blankets?

This app has it all.

RecycleSmart gives you details on over 500 councils in Australia including where your local drop off services are and the specific guidelines of each area.

It also tells you exactly what items, go in exactly what bin. Coffee cups go in the red bin.

Sustainable Seafood Guide

The fish industry is notorious for unsustainable practices. According to World Wild Life, “more than 85 per cent of the world's fisheries have been pushed to or beyond their biological limits”. A number of commercial fish populations’ survival as a species is being seriously threatened as a result.

Don’t worry, this app isn’t going to tell you to stop eating seafood. Fish are a great source of nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and protein.

This app simply educates you on how to eat seafood while still being ocean-friendly.

JouleBug

JouleBug is all about rewarding you for being environmentally-friendly.

It encourages you to apply sustainable practices to your everyday actions and suggests ways you can change simple tasks that you do day-to-day to be more sustainable.  It also teaches you all the ways you can save money by practicing ethical actions.

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Each time you complete a task you receive points. 12 points for washing your clothes in cold water. Another 12 for going a day meat-free. It encourages you to compete with friends and engage in some healthy competition.

It’s a fun, interactive app that is sure to get your competitive spirit going!

Let’s be the change we want to see.  Happy sustainable living!

What are your favourite environment-friendly apps?