In episode 212 of the Disruptors for Good podcast, I speak with Sanchali Pal, Founder & CEO at Commons, on helping people make more sustainable choices in their everyday lives.
The app focuses on meeting people where they are and helping them make better choices when it comes to shopping.
The app provides information on brands that are more sustainable and offers rewards for making sustainable choices. It also allows users to offset their carbon emissions through carbon projects.
The goal of Commons is to make sustainable shopping mainstream and to help people make more confident and secure choices in the future.
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Sanchali Pal's journey to founding Commons began with firsthand experiences of climate change impacts. Working in international development in Ethiopia and India, she witnessed the devastating effects of the climate crisis, particularly on vulnerable communities.
This exposure, coupled with observing climate disruptions in the US, ignited her passion for environmental action.
Driven by a lack of user-friendly tools for sustainable living, Sanchali began tracking her carbon footprint a decade ago.
Through mindful choices, she reduced her personal emissions by over 30%, discovering that a lower-carbon lifestyle led to improved health and happiness.
Recognizing the power of collective action, Sanchali founded Commons to accelerate positive change. The app empowers individuals to make informed, sustainable choices and harness their collective influence on the market.
She believes that just as human actions led to the climate crisis, human innovation and determination will solve it.
Sanchali's vision for Commons is to make sustainable living accessible and rewarding, proving that individual actions can drive significant global impact.
With less than a decade to halve global emissions, she's committed to helping people align their daily choices with the world they want to inhabit.
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The Commons platform is designed to make sustainable living both accessible and rewarding, proving that small, everyday choices can contribute to significant environmental change.
One of the most appealing features of the Commons App is its reward system. Users earn "seeds" and badges for making climate-friendly purchases and lifestyle choices. These rewards can be redeemed for cash or carbon offsets, providing a tangible incentive for sustainable living.
From shopping at thrift stores to using public transit or charging electric vehicles, the app recognizes and rewards a wide range of eco-conscious actions.
In a market saturated with greenwashing, Commons offers a curated selection of genuinely sustainable brands.
Users can browse through hundreds of vetted companies across various categories, including clothing, groceries, beauty products, and more.
This feature not only simplifies sustainable shopping but also supports businesses committed to reducing their carbon footprint.
The app goes beyond just tracking purchases. It provides users with personalized, practical guides for eco-friendly living. These guides cover diverse topics such as sustainable laundry practices, green banking, and eating locally.
By offering actionable advice, Commons helps users save money while reducing their environmental impact.
A key component of the app is its sophisticated carbon footprint tracker.
By analyzing each transaction based on the user's carbon profile and purchase details, Commons provides an accurate picture of individual emissions.
This personalized approach allows users to track their progress over time and receive tailored tips for reducing their carbon footprint.
Recognizing that some emissions are unavoidable, Commons offers a robust offsetting program. Users can invest in a diverse portfolio of climate solutions, including innovative projects like bio-oil storage, open-ocean kelp farming, and mangrove forest restoration.
These vetted projects not only reduce global emissions but also support local communities and ecosystem restoration.
"Second Nature" is a podcast produced by Commons that explores the challenge of living sustainably in an unsustainable world. The show delves into how sustainable choices impact both individual lives and the planet at large.
Each week, the podcast features stories from listeners who are making environmentally conscious decisions in their daily lives.
These include actions such as using public transit, composting food waste, incorporating more plant-based meals into their diets, and practicing deconsumption.
Through these stories, the podcast illustrates how individuals are actively working to create the kind of world they want to inhabit.
A unique aspect of the podcast is its focus on quantifying the impact of collective action. The show calculates the carbon impact of the sustainable choices shared by its listeners, providing a tangible measure of how individual actions contribute to larger environmental goals.
In addition to listener stories, "Second Nature" also features expert insights. Climate experts are brought in to address pressing questions from the audience, offering professional perspectives on various sustainability issues.
The podcast emphasizes that everyone's journey towards sustainability is unique. It encourages listeners to share their own sustainable living experiences, recognizing the diversity of approaches to eco-friendly lifestyles.
Those interested in contributing their stories or learning more about the podcast can visit thecommons.earth/podcast.
Through "Second Nature," Commons aims to inspire, educate, and empower individuals to make environmentally conscious choices, highlighting the collective impact of personal actions on creating a more sustainable world.
