Around the world, more and more people have started paying attention to the world’s growing climate crisis and taking action by altering their lifestyle and sharing their passion to saving our planet. Interests like “vegetarianism,” “environmentalism,” and “gardening” have been increasingly shared in people’s dating profiles.
It’s not just these trends that are hopping aboard the sustainability wagon. Today, even online dating brands are doing their part to contribute to the fight against climate change. TrulyMadly, an India-based dating app, seeks to bring people together and bring us closer to our environment.
TrulyMadly: Dating With Purpose
TrulyMadly, one of India’s most popular online dating apps, has introduced its ‘Forever Garden’ initiative on its platform, with more than 9 million users. The campaign is aimed to help couples adopt trees across India and make dating more environmentally conscious.
TrulyMadly has partnered with external vendors for the plantation and maintenance of trees. The online dating app also provides certificates and GPS coordinates to the tree owners. The initiative aims to create green lungs by planting thousands of trees over the next two to three years and help create cleaner communities around India.
Snehil Khanor, CEO and Co-founder of TrulyMadly, said, “The idea is to create awareness among the younger generation about the need for building a sustainable future and also involve them to play their part. ‘Forever Garden’ symbolizes how togetherness can help us work towards the common goal of nurturing human relationships as well as the environment.”
India’s Worsening Air Pollution Crisis
Home to 22 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities, India’s toxic air kills more than one million people each year.
The 2021 official government data shows Delhi recorded its worst November air quality in at least six years, with residents not experiencing even one “good” day of air quality throughout the month. Schools were shut amid worsening pollution levels, and a warning from the Supreme Court was formed to act against pollution in Delhi.
Snehil also says the initial idea for TrulyMadly came from couples who used to carve out their initials on the stem of a tree as a forever mark and as a symbol of their love that would stay there forever.
Since the campaign started, the brand has adopted over 1,000 trees at Sanjay Lake Park, Delhi-NCR. However, the campaign doesn’t just stop at the national capital. With office locations in more than 30 cities, the company plans to plant between 10,000 and 20,000 trees in the next three to five years and create green lungs that absorb greenhouse gases.
Today, people are more concerned about the threat that climate change poses to humanity more than ever before, and they have been sharing their voices on their dating profiles. Online dating brand OkCupid has shown that the mention of climate change, environment, and the planet on profiles have increased by 240% over the past two years, with millennials and Gen Z the most concerned.
Jane Reynolds, one of the spokespeople at the company said: “9 in 10 OkCupid users want to date someone who cares about the environment.” It’s become evident even in the romantic realm that climate change is way more than a cause worth fighting for, but also that it’s something deeply personal.
Tinder on What Matters To People Today
Tinder, the world’s largest dating platform, said in their 2019 “Year in Swipe” report that ‘Causes,’ besides being a top trending term on Tinder, they have become a symbol of a new generation.
“Millennials connect over adventure, while Gen Z bonds over changing the world,” Tinder said in its report.
The company said the majority of people on Tinder are now under age 25. The report reveals that climate change, environmental, and social causes are among the top passion and interests people mentioned in their profiles.
In honor of Earth Day earlier this year, Tinder announced their new Plant-Based Passion to allow people to connect with others who share their interests, hobbies, and lifestyle commitment.
Tinder recently partnered with Beyond Meat to offer a free plant-based Picnic Pack for two to the first 500 Tinder users who match with the Plant-Based Passion and add it to their profile. After all, meat and dairy account for almost 15% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization.
Eco-Friendly Dating Ideas
Dating is one of the oldest traditions of human experience. And, eco-friendly dates are important and are essential practice in today’s society because, not only are we showing the essence of dating to our loved ones, but we’re also making a beneficial impact on the environment.
To help you have a meaningful date in an eco-friendly way, we would love to share some eco-friendly (and not boring) date ideas for you to continue building lovely memories with your loved one and help save our planet:
- Go for walks
- Volunteer for a park/beach clean up
- Enjoy at a community fair
- Stroll around the farmer’s market
- Volunteer for your favorite cause
- Low-impact or zero-waste dinner date
- Planting date