What gets in the way of living sustainably?
When it comes to sustainability, people often lose motivation because the impact of their actions isn’t visible right away. It’s tough to keep going when the results feel far off and collective, not personal or immediate.
It's hard to stay motivated.
Sustainable choices often mean breaking routines, like carrying your own containers or switching to new products. For many, that feels inconvenient or just not worth the effort.
Its too much of a hassle.
There’s a flood of information on the internet about what’s sustainable and what’s not. But instead of it being helpful, it often creates confusion about what to do, or who to believe, leaving people frustrated.
There’s too much info out there.
Most people are busy. Adding new habits, especially ones that require some research or planning, can feel like too much on top of everything else. It disrupts their already established routines and preferences.
They just don’t have the time.
Even if someone wants to live more sustainably, they run into things they can’t change, like food only being available in plastic packaging. That makes people feel stuck or discouraged.
Some things are just out of control.
Old habits are hard to break, especially when the benefits of changing them aren’t immediately seen. That makes it quite tough for people to take those first steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle.
Starting is the hardest part.
To fully immerse yourself in the visual experience, I recommend opening the case study on your desktop. Enjoy the journey!
MY ROLE
Researcher and UI/UX Designer
MY TEAM
Me, myself and I
TIMELINE
4 days (personal project)
roots.
Helping people grow sustainable habits, one small action at a time.
HOW IT STARTED
Sometime last year, I kept thinking about how hard it actually is to live sustainably.
Not because people don’t care. Most do. But the problem is…..life. Work, routines, habits, takeout food that shows up wrapped in three layers of plastic even when you do ask for no cutlery.
I saw people trying. Carrying bottles. Taking buses. Saying no to fast fashion. But they’d hit a wall, again and again.
I spoke to 12 people who had some interest in being more sustainable; or at least wanted to try. The conversations were raw, honest, and a little frustrating (in a good way).
“Every time I see restaurants use plastic for their packaging, I’m like, what’s the point of me even bringing about those changes”
“I’d like to see how my actions bring about changes in the real world”
“I change some of my habits to follow a sustainable lifestyle, but I’m not able to see the benefits.”
“ I want to bring about some changes, but I don’t know how to”
“Looking at others follow sustainable practices inspires me to follow them.”
What HELPS PEOPLE STICK WITH IT?
Being part of a group with shared goals makes it easier to stay motivated. There’s a shared sense of purpose, and knowing others are doing it too makes your own efforts feel way more meaningful.
Community helps.
Whether it’s tracking how much waste they’ve reduced or how their choices affect the environment, having that kind of feedback helps them feel like their actions count. It gives people a sense of progress that keeps them going.
Seeing the impact matters.
When users understand the impact of their choices, like how much water they save, sustainability becomes less abstract. It turns into something they can see and feel, which pushes them to keep going.
Making it real.
I looked at existing sustainability apps too (and here’s what didn’t work)
JouleBug: While well-meaning, some reviews said that the tone is overly moralistic or “preachy” in how it nudged behavior.
Olio: Amazing for food sharing, but its multiple functions (food rescue, neighbor swaps, volunteering, etc.) overwhelmed new users.
EarthHero: Some users appreciated the clean design, but other reviews said the feedback lacked depth - the badges & tips feel generic.
I realized the real opportunity wasn’t to educate or guilt or impress. It was to motivate quietly, through small wins, visible progress, and zero shame.
INTRODUCING...
Roots: A sustainability lifestyle app that lets users adopt and grow a virtual tree, where every real-world action helps it thrive. It’s a gentle, visual way to see your progress, reminding you that real change doesn’t happen overnight, but grows slowly, just like a tree.
You skip plastic → your tree grows a new leaf.
You walk to work → its roots grow deeper.
Small actions add up.......and your tree shows it.
To make progress visible: Shows users’ real-time data so they always know where they stand
To give timely nudges: The “Tip of the Day” offers easy ideas to support users’ plant and their goals.
To nudge users into action: Adds a small prompt to the challenge button to make it feel worth doing.
To give users a go-to resource: Curates blogs, videos, and trusted creators - a simple, reliable hub for sustainability content
To keep users grounded in progress: The vertical slider shows their current eco-impact. Green means good. Red means it’s time to take action.
To make impact feel real: Grows a virtual tree that reflects users’ sustainable actions in the real world.
To create a sense of community: Lets users connect, share tips, and discover local sustainable options.
To build consistency: Tracks success streaks to keep users motivated day after day.
To show the impact of inaction: The tree starts to wilt when users make unsustainable choices, making consequences feel real.
HOME SCREEN
TRACKER SECTION
To nudge action when it’s needed: A red warning shows up when users over-consume, suggesting challenges to help. A green message appears when they do well, encouraging more progress.
To help users reflect on daily actions: Users can log water, energy, travel, food, and purchases to understand their lifestyle patterns.
To motivate with timely goals: Weekly and daily challenges at the bottom help users stay on track and experiment with small, doable changes.
To encourage course correction: A visual bar at the top shows if they’ve over-consumed, prompting them to take action.
To keep things bite-sized and specific: Each tracker focuses on one habit category with relatable examples like “showering” or “take-away.”
WHAT I’D BRING TO YOUR TEAM
I’m someone who listens deeply, then designs. I don’t assume users need more features, I try to figure out what makes them stay.
If you're solving a behavior problem, especially something that asks for consistent action over time, I’ll bring:
Real empathy
Calm, clear thinking
And a strong understanding of why people quit, and how to gently bring them back
And that's a wrap folks. Hope you enjoyed the journey!
Because trees take time. They don’t shout or rush. They just grow, slowly, quietly, one day at a time. And honestly, that felt a lot like how real habits form. You don’t see big changes right away, but over time, it adds up. That analogy really stuck with me.
I wanted the app to feel the same. Something simple and steady — where every sustainable action you take helps your virtual tree grow. A new leaf, a branch, maybe even fruit. And if you slip up? The tree shows that too. It might wilt a little or lose a leaf.
Watching it grow makes the journey feel more tangible. You start to care about it. You feel connected. And that little sense of responsibility? It goes a long way in helping people stick with the habit.
Why a tree?