So, you wanna start buying from eco-friendly brands. (Let’s go, green girly!) But, you also wanna know if your sustainable shopping habits are actually making an impact. Well, Sanchali Pal (she/her), founder and CEO of Commons, made an app for that. “It’s the only app that automatically tracks the emissions of your purchases and provides personalized recommendations to buy from more sustainable companies,” she says. “And for the emissions you can’t avoid, Commons makes it easy to offset by supporting vetted climate solutions.”

Ready to not leave a carbon footprint behind? Keep reading to learn more! 🌎👣

What was the inspo behind creating the company’s app?
I started Commons to make the sustainable choice the easy choice. I began tracking my carbon emissions in an excel spreadsheet, having personally witnessed the impacts of the climate crisis living in India and Ethiopia. Over the next six years, I lowered my emissions by 30%, saved $2k a year, and built a healthier, happier life. With Commons, I wanted to make it easy for people to include carbon in their decision-making—as easily as they include cost or convenience. It’s one of the most important ways we can take climate action every day, in addition to showing up at the polls, in our careers, and in our communities.

How exactly does the app work?
After downloading the app, securely link your spending data. Within seconds, you’ll see a real-time feed of the emissions behind your transactions, based on national, local, and company-level data and our proprietary algorithm that assesses over 180 categories of spending. Furthermore, you’ll gain practical advice and personalized recs to save carbon and money by taking tangible action, including opting into renewable energy and shopping from sustainable brands.

With our newest campaign, users get paid for taking action as well. Earn up to $30 in cash for spending at sustainable companies, including public transit, farmers markets, or Climate Neutral Certified brands. If users donate their rewards, we’ll double their donation to Intersectional Environmentalist; and if they invest them in carbon offset solutions, we’ll triple them.

What impact has the app had for consumers and the planet?
In 2022, the average Commons user reduced their footprint by 20% and saved $200 a month. If everyone in the U.S. did the same, it would be like eradicating the emissions of the entire airline industry. Our users have also invested over $2M to remove carbon from the atmosphere and prevent deforestation.

Are there any other sustainable practices you use?
Every year, I set a carbon flight “budget.” This helps me decide which flights are most important to me—like flying to visit friends and family—and which I’m willing to forego or switch to lower-carbon modes of transport, like bus, carpool, or train. I check in on this budget every few months to re-evaluate, and find that it helps me travel in the way that’s most meaningful and fulfilling to me.

What are a few of your fave sustainable shops/products/brands?
One of my favorite sustainable shops is the vegan coffee shop and bakery by my office, Timeless Coffee. Their coffee and pastries are delicious—far better than most non-vegan cafés in my area! When I’m buying clothing, I’ve been using Poshmark, and for household goods, I look to Facebook Marketplace. I found an incredible bedside table, never used, on Facebook Marketplace for half the price! For things I can’t buy secondhand, like skincare, I’m a fan of cocokind. They publish product-specific carbon labels, and I’d love to see more brands adopt that practice.

And finally, what’s your advice to those who want to change their carbon footprint but don’t feel like it’ll make a difference?
Individual impact may feel small, but collective action isn’t. If everyone in the U.S. lowered their carbon footprint by 1%, it would be like taking nearly 12M gas-powered cars off of the road for a year. For some people, that’s just switching the milk in your latte from dairy to oatmilk, taking public transit instead of driving, or swapping chicken for red meat during your grocery trips. But it’s not just about reducing your own footprint, it’s about using our spending to signal to companies that we demand more sustainable alternatives. Consumer influence is the reason that electric vehicles are taking off, plant-based proteins have been developed, and Apple is launching carbon neutral products. We have more power to accelerate change than we realize, especially when working together.