App-ily ever after

Grist’s guide to green iPhone apps 4

iphone with earthWondering what brand of toothpaste is the most eco-friendly? There’s an app for that.

Need to know which species of fish on the menu were caught sustainably? There’s an app for that.

Long to plant a tree with every swish of your PhoneSaber? There’s not an app for that ... yet. But check out the apps that plant trees—digital and otherwise—that are already available.

Contrary to the rest of the going-green retail world, iTunes doesn’t have a “green” category in its app store (For better? For worse? Can’t decide….). And search for “green” in the iTunes store and the first app that appears is “BreakMeter—the Golf Green Reader.” Hmmm … that’s not quite what I meant.

Fear not this categorical inconvenience, dear Grist reader, we have examined the 50+ carbon calculators, shopping guides, mileage trackers, and more of the green iPhone world and offer some recommendations on where to best spend your App store dollars.

How our guide to green iPhone apps works:

Shopping

3rdWhaleMobile3rdWhale Mobile: This app uses GPS to find green restaurants, stores, and travel destinations in 100 cities in the U.S. and Canada, and displays results on a map with directions.   No iPhone? 3rd whale is working on Android and Blackberry phones. Free 2 stars iTunes

GoodGuideGoodGuide: Use this app to find out what’s in 75,000 common household products. No iPhone? Check out goodguide.com. Free 2.5 stars iTunes

Go Organic!Go Organic!: This app finds organic grocery stores and Earth Day events near you. Free 1.5 stars iTunes

Gorgeously Green Survival GuideGorgeously Green Survival Guide: Want to know the dirt on your makeup before you buy it? This app suggests chemicals to avoid in makeup and sunscreens and gives tips on food and product labels. $0.99 5 stars iTunes

greenopiaGreenopia:  This Los Angeles-specific app boasts 1,000+ searchable and map-able listings of green businesses, restaurants and services. More U.S. cities to come later in 2009. Free 4 stars iTunes

Greenpeace Tissue GuideGreenpeace Tissue Guide: Research brands of consumer paper products to find the greenest tissues, paper towels, and toilet paper. Free 3.5 stars iTunes

shopgreenshopgreen: This app is more than just a shopping tool. Enter information about your green habits and the app will connect that information with promotions from local businesses. No iPhone? shopgreen is available on other mobile platforms. $0.99 2.5 stars iTunes

If you can only download one: Get the GoodGuide.  Reviewers praise the level of detail in the GoodGuide database as well as its ease of use.

Shopping, Food, Transportation, Energy Monitoring,  Recycling, Business and Activism, Entertainment,  News, and Green Living Tips.

Sara Barz is a writer based in Seattle.

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  1. TheQueen Posted 8:26 pm
    05 Jul 2009

    I found this very helpful because of the ratings for all of the applications!! As an Iphone user, I have the "good guide" application, its really helpful and interesting to just play around with. Things like Clorox and Windex have so many chemicals; however, my favorite one is Off brand mosquito repellent with Deet! It's insane how many toxic chemicals are in it. I really found this entry interesting partly because I love the Iphone and am constantly impressed with the different applications it has, but now it seems as if every major company is focusing more on helping people on becoming Green. Apple was very smart to allow these applications to be published because it is  an important aspect of many peoples' lives. Also, having these applications on the Iphone allows for quick and easy access for questions or concerns the user has about about products, food, or shopping. For many being green is not something they have a lot of information about, and in the daily grind of life, its hard to take the time and say "well is what I'm buying Green, or am I  eating at a green establishment" but with these applications for iphone (and other phone users) it can be as simple as a click of the button to find out without much time spent. Like I said, I use the "good guide" and I would agree it's an awesome app to have! 

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  2. Meghan_Seventh_Generation Posted 8:48 am
    08 Jul 2009

    Hi Sara! Meghan Butler, here, at Seventh Generation. Great article! We particularly like the Good Guide and Greenopia applications. Have you seen our Label Reading Guide application? http://www.seventhgeneration.com/show-whats-inside/cleaning-products-ingredients-guide We launched it in March and update it frequently. Our science team canvassed the cleaning aisles to catalog all listed ingredients and warnings and thoroughly and simply explain them. As consumers, we believe we not only have the RIGHT to know, we have the RIGHT to understand what's in our cleaning products and WHY. Knowledge is power and we are most powerful in our purchasing decisions. As we struggle to detox the environment in our homes and that at large, we must consider the chemicals that surround us and the companies that use them and source them. Ask yourself - what are they not telling you? When you read a cleaning product label, do you understand it like you do a food label? Can you make out ingredients? Do you know why they are there? Why are the warnings so harsh? That's why we design our labels to be easy-to-read with all ingredients listed and simplified. That's why we've set the industry predecent for years on ingredient disclosure when many opt not to disclose more than one. And that's why we made this application (also available as a widget and web site for non-iPhoners). Everyone should be empowered to look a little deeper at what they use in their breathing space at home. Thanks again for sharing your finds. Look forward to downloading the other goodies.

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  3. Ecoscene Posted 1:08 pm
    09 Jul 2009

    Another great guide, thanks Grist! Ecoscene also tested out some of these green iPhone apps, along with some others out there, including Green Meter, Gas Bag Pro, and A Real Tree. For our take on these, see http://ecosceneblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/putting-green-iphone-apps-to-test.html

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  4. Dadawn_Abbott Posted 12:58 am
    13 Jul 2009

    Hi Grist,
    Thanks for sharing this useful information regarding to iphones. The guide is so useful and easy to understand.Thanks,watches

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