How environment and conservation charities are using tech to drive change

Fashionistas slow down fast fashion

Fast fashion has helped send over 235 million items to the landfill each year, according to the London Sustainability Exchange. Hard to ignore, apps are coming together to help slow down, recycle, and encourage better usage. Good on You is a sustainable shopping app which helps reduce waste. Endorsed by ethical fashion-forward celebrity Emma Watson, the app helps inform audiences on which brands are sustainable by rating, in addition to an evaluation of the materials used.

Corporate partnerships help environment charities maximise expertise

Working on the forefront with environmental and conservation charities is Google, showing how corporate charity partnerships can work. Perfect for charity digital leaders looking for a fundraising and media platform, One Today features a menu of conservation and environment charities. Each photo advertisement is crafted to suit the cause. The Nature Conservancy’s Restore Panda Habitat shows an endearing panda with its babe and includes a suggested donation amount for its habitat. For charities on the platform, transaction fees are waived by the tech giant. For local charity leaders, Google also has an AI Impact Challenge which has a $ 25 million grant funding pool for charities looking to use AI to address local environmental and social issues.

Charity apps showcase charity partnerships and collaboration

From global to local, charity apps have helped address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. But for charity digital leaders looking to build up local knowledge of the environment, exemplary apps have helped volunteers and users mobilise.

Partners the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, The Royal Horticultural Society, Coventry University, Garden Organic, and Hozelock have come together under a public-private citizen science tech venture. The partners have launched Blooms for Bees, which includes an interactive map and mobile phone app. The app encourages users to get outside, observe plants, and take videos/photos of bees to be uploaded for verification. The partners then work together to identify the bee species and connection with local flowers. Data is then collected and used by their digital experts and scientists to assist the conservation effort.

Similar to the Blooms for Bees technology, the British Trust for Ornithology also has an app to engage supporters. Project developers include the RSPB, BirdWatch Ireland, BirdLife International, the Scottish Ornithologist’s Club, and the Welsh Ornithological Society. The project BirdTrack allows supporters to download an app to help manage individual bird sightings. For rare birds, records are sent to the partners for verification. Again, the big data is used to improve conservation efforts in targeted geographies.