Free Green Apps
For those who have all things "i" (iPhone, iPad, iPod), here are free eco-friendly apps, all found in the iTunes app store. The usefulness of the following apps depend on your lifestyle and preferences.
1. Animal-Free
Animal-Free is a pocket reference guide for many common and hidden animal ingredients. Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, part-time vegetarian or simply trying to shop vegetarian-friendly, this app by Symbiotic Software will help you make conscientious shopping decisions. New vegans will appreciate the list of commonly misunderstood or unfamiliar vegan ingredients that will help expand dietary horizons.
2. CouponSherpa
Ditch the pounds of coupon pages cluttering your refrigerator and wallet. This mountain-climbing superhero provides hundreds of in-store mobile coupons to streamline your savings. CouponSherpa gives you access to the hottest deals on clothing, shoes, restaurants, electronics, travel, jewelry, sporting goods, books and more.
4. Cruelty Free
This handy shopping app is your guide to cruelty-free cosmetics, personal care and household products. Created by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, Cruelty Free lists more than 200 U.S. and Canadian companies that don't test ingredients, formulations or finished products on animals.
5. FindGreen
Search more than 56,000 green and sustainable businesses to make everyday choices that will reduce your environmental impact. FindGreen finds everything from yoga centers to bicycle shops to organic restaurants near you.
6. Go Organic!
This app from the Organic Trade Association, Earth Day Network and Music Matters allows you to enter your ZIP code to find stores near you that provide free coupon books for organic products and foods. Go Organic! also provides a listing of Earth Day events in your neighborhood.
7. Greenpeace Tissue Guide
The Greenpeace Tissue Guide allows you to make informed decision when shopping for recycled tissue and toilet paper. Experts have rated more than 100 brands as "recommended," "could do better" and "avoid!"
8. iLocavore
Localistas have their very own iPhone app for updated news and blog posts on local-oriented and even city-specific events and products. iLocavore sends notifications of local farmers' market, gardening tips and community garden volunteering opportunities, and has a guide to vendors that carry local foods. A handy new feature displays the mileage of an item in relation to your location.
9. TheGoodGuide
GoodGuide helps you find safe, healthy and sustainable products while you shop. Simply scan the product's barcode to view detailed ratings for the health, environment and social responsibility of more than 65,000 products and companies.
10. Carticipate
Hook up to a social network of folks who want to share rides. Just plug in your destination and Carticipate finds others in your social network headed in the same direction. You can hitch a ride or share your own vehicle.
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