Want to do more to be part of a sustainable future? The biggest barrier is knowing where to start, so we’ve dug up some apps to make it easier to identify how you can make a difference!

Keep reading to kick fast fashion, flick on efficient lights, know what can be recycled (and where), and more! These apps will boost your contribution to sustainability with no brainstorming session required.

RecycleSmart

Ever been unsure about what can go in the recycle bin? RecycleSmart is your saviour! Enter your address and the app will tell you what can be recycled in your local collection. They’ve even teamed up with some Councils to collect recyclable items that can’t go in the kerbside collection!

Free on iOS and Android.

Light Bulb Saver

Efficient light bulbs have become more affordable in the last few years. This means that wattage has become a less common way to compare light bulbs. Some brands offer a comparison, but if you don’t know what LEDs suit your lamp or how much halogen you need for your hallway, look no further than Light Bulb Saver.

It’ll also give you a rundown of purchase price and running costs, so you won’t be left scratching your head in the supermarket aisle.

Free on iOS and Android. More info at energyrating.gov.au/apps.

Shop Ethical!

The Shop Ethical! app puts a product database at your fingertips. A built-in barcode scanner utilises your phone’s camera to make shopping ethically even easier!

Whatever you’re shopping for, check the social record of the manufacturer or the materials used in the product itself. The app is well worth the one-off purchase to support regular updates of the product database with the latest information.

$5.99 on iOS and $4.94 on Android.

ShareWaste

Ever heard of crowdfunding? How about ridesharing? Combine the two and you have… crowdsharing? Remove costs and emissions from the concept and that’s how we like to think of ShareWaste!

ShareWaste is an app that networks people who want to recycle organic material. Whether you’re a business or an individual, have a garden or a lot of food scraps, use ShareWaste to connect with people nearby to collaborate with your waste and create compost, feed worms or some chooks.

Free on iOS and Android.

Go forth and be greener!

Have you been feeling a little stressed out lately? Whether you’re not sleeping well or you’re just feeling run off your feet in general, it’s important to take care of your mental health. While some stress is healthy (it helps us respond to danger or other challenges) too much can have a negative effect on our wellbeing. In fact, the Australian Government’s Health Direct website advises that if stress is greater than our ability to cope, it can lead to physical and mental health issues and cause problems with relationships and work.

So, how can we make our mental health a priority and take steps to manage our stress more effectively? We’ve rounded up five handy smartphone apps that can give you a hand. It’s all about developing habits to improve our wellbeing, so let’s dive in and unwind!

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For most of us, smartphones are invaluable parts of our everyday lives but it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Spending too much time on one’s phone doesn’t just cause procrastination problems – it can also lead to poor posture and even negatively affect our mood!

If you’re looking to make a positive lifestyle change and cut down on your smartphone screen time, look no further. We’ve put together some great tips to help you spend less time on the phone and improve your general wellbeing.

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