The temptation to drive five minutes down the road instead of walking fifteen minutes is all too real when a car is tempting you from your driveway. But there’s always something niggling at you as you drive along that you try to drown out by turning Beyonce up on the car stereo.
It never quite works.
You could have just walked, you haven’t been outside yet today, and, most notably, it’s bad for the environment.
In our society globally, we are all too familiar with the pace at which our planet is heating up. With effects such as an increase in severe weather conditions and rising sea levels that can affect the survival of species on land and in the ocean, it’s hard not to feel helpless as a single individual.
It feels as though to combat this issue, we all need to change simple behaviours. But it will only work if everyone complies.
This is a philosophy that Daniel Gipple took with him in 2010 as he set to designing an app to motivate and reward people for making healthier transport choices, like walking instead of taking a short car journey, living more sustainably and contributing to communities.
Daniel Gipple was an entrepreneur before his death in 2013 following a protracted illness. His intention with BetterPoints was to stimulate the potential good within all of us, by rewarding positive behaviour, like walking, and encouraging charity. Little did he know, it would spread across the UK and into Europe, South America and New Zealand.
BetterPoints works by collaborating with Local Authorities, Public Transport Organisations and major sustainability, academic and social non-profit organisations so that if, for example, people choose to walk to work or college, they will earn points. These points can be saved up so participants can claim real-life rewards, in the form of vouchers for high-street names and local independent traders. BetterPoints are funded through partner challenge contracts, grants, donations and sponsorships.
These rewards are a great initial incentive to catch the attention of the masses. Users stay engaged by a tracking feature that shows them the positive impacts their sustainable choices are having.
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The app also offers an opportunity to donate BetterPoints a user has earnt as cash to local and national charities directly through the app.
The features that have been thoughtfully put in place can make individuals feel like they’re not alone in making small, sustainably conscious choices. The celebration of positive actions within the app creates a community feel, as if you’re making a real difference.
It can be easy to adopt a ‘what’s the point if it’s only me’ attitude’, but with BetterPoints encouraging philanthropy and broadcasting statistics like 23,082,299 kilograms of carbon emissions avoided since the app began, it’s hard not to feel like you’re contributing something good to our planet.
So, next time you are considering the car when you’re popping to the shop for a sweet treat, download the BetterPoints app, via the App Store or Google Play Store, not only to save the planet but also to get yourself a free coffee!
