Home 9 Learn & Go Green 9 Eco-Living in 2021 – Green Apps and Resources

Eco-Living in 2021 – Green Apps and Resources

by | Jun 9, 2021 | Learn & Go Green, Lifestyle

Eco-Living - Green Apps - Basic Needs

If you are trying to live your best life by increasing joy and minimizing stress, all while keeping your carbon footprint as low as realistically possible, welcome to the club!

 Inspired by increased media around global environmental events (Hello Covid), youth eco-leaders (We love you, Greta!), and of course the earth loving-superstars who can fit their whole family’s year of trash into a mason jar (🙋‍♀️ Hi @ZeroWasteHome, @Going.Zero.Waste and others!), more and more people are making the switch to low waste living, but are facing information overload in the process, not to mention restrictions of budget and time.

Fortunately, as we come out of the worst of the pandemic (🤞🤞🤞) and ease back into our communities with fresh perspectives on green-living priorities, the digital world has our back. Apps to find local businesses that sell vetted eco-friendly products, thoughtful blog posts outlining action steps to take, and online groups to support, educate and encourage you on your journey abound!

Here we provide a handy eco-resource list for our various “basic needs”, with a modern touch. From Wikipedia: “A traditional list of immediate “basic needs” is food (including water), shelter and clothing. Many modern lists emphasize … not just food, water, clothing and shelter, but also sanitation, education, and healthcare.” *And we include these additional aspects. (Note: This list does not cover “psychological” or “sociological” needs – we stick to the PHYSICAL fundamentals here!)

Eco-Living - Green Apps - Food

FOOD

Our eating habits impact the natural world, and its balance, more than anything else that we do! These resources are a good jumping off point to start eating seasonally, locally and sustainably – as well as how to waste less!

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION RESOURCE LINK
Grocery List Shopping with a list helps you to buy only what you need. Stick to the list to avoid food waste

Our Groceries Shopping List

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

 

Seasonal eating Eat seasonally per your region to lower your footprint

Canadian Blog Article: “What’s In Season”

US Guide: Seasonal Food Guide

 

Farmers Markets Find a farmers’ market in your community to source locally grown, seasonal produce – win-win-win!

Farms.com > Farmers Markets

 

Local Fruit Sharing If your fruit trees produce more fruit that you can eat, you can share it with others! Find, or share the bounty, for free at this network of fruit sharing resources across Canada.

Operation Fruit Rescue, website

 

Local Food Sharing With a motto of “Share More. Waste Less.” – sign up to get notified if anyone in your neighbourhood has excess food or goods to share, or share your own

Olio

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Seafood Sustainability Make informed seafood choices that support healthy oceans, today and always. Science backed.

https://seafood.ocean.org

 

Monitor foods by expiry dates

It’s amazing how much food waste occurs from items expiring in our fridges. Track purchase dates and make sure to “rotate” items when you put them away to prevent this waste.

 

NoWaste – Food Inventory List

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Claim identifications These resources explain what commonly seen food-package claims really mean from “Naturally Grown” to “Responsibly Grown”… it can be a hard area to navigate!

Canadian Gov – label guide

Food Print – Food label guide

Eco Label Index

 

Meat Free There are many reasons to move toward a plant-based diet. This website lets you see how much difference you can make by going meat free, even one day a week Meat Free Mondays, Interactive Website

[Bonus! Check out this great article regarding the sustainability of Seafood: https://www.chatelaine.com/food/buying-sustainable-fish-in-canada/]

Eco-Living - Green Apps - Water

WATER

Water is the magic elixir of life. Essential for the survival of every aspect of life on Earth, it is more important than ever that we ALL act as stewards of this valuable resource. From doing your part daily by choosing products that are water wise (like Live for Tomorrow line ups), shutting off the tap while brushing your teeth, refilling your water bottle from local spots, to supporting those who actively protect our oceans and lakes, all these actions do add up!

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION RESOURCE LINK
Water refill stations

Refilling your water bottle at locations throughout your community is an excellent way to reduce plastic use

(Another tip, many coffee shops and cafes will fill your bottle for you – if you are polite and they aren’t too busy! Also, many malls now have a bottle filling station next to their drinking fountains, often near the washrooms.)

https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/water-fountains.aspx

 

Quench” Water Refill Station Finder for Toronto

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

 

Ocean Protectors

 

15 Brave Organizations Fighting to Save Our Oceans, including SeaShephard, Greenpeace and more Marine Insight, Blog Article
Freshwater Protectors Follow for actions you can take nationwide to support those on the front lines protecting our water!

https://www.freshwateralliance.ca

 

Get involved 10 ways you can do your part to help protect the ocean

Oceana, Blog Article:

https://oceana.org/living-blue/10-ways-you-can-help-save-oceans

 

(Follow @oceana_canada)

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CLOTHING

It’s fun to be frugal! Frugal with both money and resources. The links in this list all help “green up” your wardrobe. From swapping clothes, to buying and selling used items online, to only buying “new” pieces if they are from sustainable manufacturers or local makers… “Green” looks good on everyone! Just say NO … to fast fashion!

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION RESOURCE LINK
Swapping, sharing “Swap the clothes you’ve fallen out of love with for clothes you want to wear now” https://www.swapsociety.co/
Buying/sell clothes online Buy or sell gently worn clothes online

https://www.thredup.com

 

https://poshmark.ca

(“Poshmark” App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Sustainable manufacturers LA based company whose mended and manufactured products are created from a combination of post-consumer waste, deadstock and domestically, organically grown fibers.

https://suayla.com

@suaysewshop

Upcycled fashion Follow fashion forward designers with creative style

Zero Waste Daniel, Designer @zerowastedaniel

Sarah the Upcyclist, Designer

@sewsewzoso_upcycle

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HOME

Your home is your sanctuary and should be an oasis from the toxins and stresses of life. Swapping to all-natural products for household cleaning, refilling with local staples for the pantry, adding plants both indoors and out, being conscious of what products you buy – making choices that are good for you, your home, your family AND the environment does wonders to improve the quality of your life.

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION RESOURCE LINK
Refillery finder Find local sources for sustainable and refillable daily use items https://lftbrands.com/store-locator/ and filter on “Refill”
Zero Waste Guide Timeless information on converting to a zero-waste life ZeroWaste Guide, PDF
Learn how to take action at home

Podcast about reducing toxins at home, by “Green at Home”

 

The Missing Pillar of Health

(Podcast found on your favourite podcast player)

Plant Care Guide Tips on taking care of your plants, signs of disease to watch for – also – reminders to water!

Planta

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

 

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SANITATION

“There is no such thing as away. When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.” Annie Leonard wisely stated in “The Story of Stuff”. We need to move away from the throw away culture, and even recycling culture, and move toward first having less waste, and second, how we handle the waste we do produce. As we move toward lower waste living, below are some resources to deal with the inevitable “Stuff” along the way, and above all we highly recommend getting familiar with your local Waste Management Resources – call or email your local municipal government to receive a detailed list of what is and is not accepted in your blue bin, and what to do with that which isn’t.

* Great article about plastics in Canada: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/03/09/canada-drowning-plastic-waste-recycling-wont-save-us

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION RESOURCE LINK
Compost Find where you can compost in your area

Sharewaste

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Recycling Apps Recycling Apps: how and what

Recycle Coach

Recycle BC

Recycle Everywhere

Garbage Day Waste Reminders

Edmonton Waste Wise

TOwaste – City of Toronto

(Apps available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Freecycling Join over 8 million people around the world are giving and getting free things in their local communities

https://trashnothing.com/beta/

 

Recycling Electronics Electronics recycling across Canada

https://www.return-it.ca/

https://www.electronicrecyclingassociation.ca/

Defined – Recycling Symbols Recycle symbols defined https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling_codes
Wishcycling Education article

Road Runner Recycling, Blog Article:

https://www.roadrunnerwm.com/blog/wishcycling

Road Runner Recycling, Waste Audit Guide:

https://www.roadrunnerwm.com/waste-audit-guide

Waste into Fuel Company working to convert ALL plastics and other waste into fuel https://www.cielows.com
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WORK & PLAY

“Education” gets a reboot in this section with resources to green-up your “Work & Play” with alternate transportation options and supporting the planting of trees just by browsing the internet, and staying away from your device!

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION RESOURCE LINK
Transportation – Car Share Learn about carsharing coast to coast – Canada https://movmi.net/shared-mobility-canada/
Biking Find bike routes to get around more easily without need of fuel

Bikemap

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Search engine Plant trees while you browse! This app uses profit from ads to plant trees!

Ecosia

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Time management Limiting screen time allows you to get more done – this app will incentivize you, and will plant actual trees as a result!

Forest

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

With “Healthcare” reframed as “Health & Wellbeing”, these resources support green options around physical and mental health, particularly with making informed choices about the products you interact with daily. (This short list is in no way to be regarded as a replacement to medical advice from a physician.) 

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION RESOURCE LINK
Lifestyle product rankings Search products for a ranking “Dirty”, “Half n’ Half” or “Clean” – see how the products you use every day stack up!

Think Dirty – Shop Clean

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Cosmetics product rankings

Cosmetics Database ranked as Low, Moderate or High Hazard!

 

EWG Skin Deep

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Activities Adopt sustainable activities into your life 

Joulebug

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Physical Health -Challenges Get around by foot, bike, kayak, etc – and track your distances. Challenge friends and yourself!

Strava

(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)

Mental Health From suicide prevention, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, to meditation – this article lists various apps to support your mental health

https://www.psycom.net/25-best-mental-health-apps

 

And a Canadian community that encompasses them all? Random Acts of Green (RAOG)! With a website, blog, app, AND active social media accounts, living a RAOG life helps you check all the boxes!

Their vision is to build a global climate action community where everyone feels empowered to take actions together. Their mission is to prove that any change – no matter how big or how small – can add up to make a big collective impact. Their community recognizes that we all have a part to play in protecting our shared home.

Follow them for tips toward living your best low-waste life, to learn about ecosystems – and – to take green actions to earn points! Points can be used toward discounts at participating businesses – including Live for Tomorrow! Woop woop!

Join the community here: https://raog.ca/

And find Live for Tomorrow on their site here: https://raog.ca/community/lft-group/

Eco living should be fun, easy and rewarding – and we are thrilled to be on this journey with you, and don’t forget…. As Margaret Mead wisely said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Every little bit helps!

Live for Tomorrow Laundry

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