Commons: Make Your Money Count

As someone who cares deeply about the environment and is very aware of how much waste we generate, I’ve honestly avoided calculating my carbon footprint because I was worried I’d open a Pandora’s box that would feel overwhelming to address. Downloading Commons completely changed that. The onboarding process was incredibly smooth, especially linking my financial accounts, and I was impressed by how clearly the app presents my carbon footprint. I also love that it highlights which brands are more sustainable and explains their ratings in a way that’s easy to understand rather than overwhelming. I love the gentle tips and challenges I can sign up for each month to reduce my carbon impact and how the app easily offers ways for me to offset them. One feature I’d really love to see is the ability to compare the sustainability of different brands or flights before making a purchase, rather than only seeing the impact afterward. Having that information upfront would make it much easier to make more sustainable choices. I’d also like to see the brand rating methodology and evaluation criteria made more visible and easier to find, perhaps with a dedicated, more accessible section on the website.

I've been using the commons app for about three months now. Loving the app so much, I've told plenty of people that it's the best thing on my phone. The new watchlist feature is great!!! Helpful to know both what to avoid and what to look for. Wondering if there could ever be a “getting started” module with some easy links and tips to begin living sustainably? The podcasts and news articles are wonderful but also overwhelming, I'd like to know some of the quickest and easiest things (or most important) to get started with first, and grow from there!

The idea of this app is it helps you estimate your carbon footprint based on your lifestyle and spending habits, and rewards you seeds for making more sustainable choices, like buying from a sustainable company or second hand. They’ve rated brands based on how climate friendly and transparent they are. You can use your seeds to redeem gift cards to sustainable brands or spend them on organizations that are fighting climate change. The app is pretty polished and intuitive. The app earns money through affiliate links to different brands. I hope the app gets more popular, it’s a cool idea executed well.