Every year on April 22nd, we celebrate Earth Day and consider how we and our members can help protect the planet we all live on.
Whether it’s planting trees, saving water or countering the cost-of-living crisis with ways to cut down on your energy and food bills, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular environmentally-friendly apps to help you save.
Curb food waste
On average, 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted globally every year which feels awful considering how much prices have shot up in the last few years.
The OLIO app allows neighbours in local communities to share unwanted food and other items for free. People are free to share or pick up anything from an unwanted gift, produce that’s on its date from a local store, leftover event catering supplies or excess food that won’t get eaten before a holiday.
Don’t risk missing out on food nearing its use by date. With 20% off Ninja Kitchen cookware, it’s even easier to make delicious soups, snacks and slow-cooked meals to treat anyone’s tastebuds. We’ve even shared some super simple but sinfully tasty recipes for you to help inspire your mealtimes!
Alternatively, the Too Good To Go app; restaurants, cafes and bakeries list leftover food that would otherwise be thrown away. Users can sign up for free, outline their dietary requirements and then browse the map for nearby options to pick up a ‘magic bag’ for a fraction of the original cost.
Power down and be energy-efficient
With the cost of energy bills only seeming to go up, it’s important to consider ways to cut down.
WhenToPlugIn lets you know the best time to plug in big energy-draining electrical devices such as a washing machines or a dishwasher to cut down your bills and save electricity.
WWF’s MyFootprint on the other help you calculate your carbon footprint to see how and where you can improve to be more environmentally friendly as well as giving you super simple environmentally-friendly challenges!
It can also help to invest in energy-efficient appliances. With Blue Light Card, you can not only save 5% on LED bulbs, but also claim up to £500 off energy-saving fridge freezers and even get 35% off smart thermostats (when you spend over £499) to help you take control of your heating bill and start saving energy.
Cut down on your water use
Most water providers host online calculators such as this one by Thames Water to help you identify how much water is being used by your household. From water used when flushing the toilet to running baths or even putting on a load of laundry, they’ll be able to add up the amount of water your family use every day and give useful tips to help you decrease your consumption.
One easy way to help do your bit without having to renovate your bathroom or kitchen appliances (even if you could save over 12% when you shop with Blue Light Card!) is to change over your shower head to one that’s eco-friendly and high pressure. You can find affordable options for as little as £4 and you can even save 15% if you bulk out your order to £15 when buying via Shein!
Do your bit by planting trees
Whether you’re browsing for a new outfit or finding a fun place to go out for dinner, reverse the negative community impact by using Ecosia. Like most other search engines, Ecosia makes money from advertising, except they reinvest their profits in planting new trees where nature and communities need them most!
Whether you’re planning to enjoy some of Britain’s most beautiful woodlands or are looking to invest in nurturing your own little patch of nature, make sure you are giving yourself time to disconnect from the day-to-day stress and reconnect with yourself and your family by enjoying the great outdoors.
