As cities become more densely populated, sustainability is often seen as a policy issue—something to be handled by governments and large organizations. But Tolu Salami, a technology entrepreneur and sustainability advocate, believes the key to meaningful change lies elsewhere: incentivizing individual action.
Salami, the founder of LetPlant, has built an AI-powered plant care app that is changing how people interact with plants in urban spaces. But beyond AI-driven gardening, he is pioneering a gamified approach to sustainability.
At Accelerate HQ London, Salami spoke about the role of technology, behavior design, and AI in making sustainability more accessible to city dwellers. His message was clear: sustainability needs to be engaging, rewarding, and seamlessly integrated into daily life.
“We can’t expect people to adopt green habits just because they know it’s important,” Salami said during his talk. “We need to make it as easy, rewarding, and enjoyable as using social media or fitness tracking apps.”
Now, with Green Impact, a new feature inside LetPlant, he is turning that philosophy into a practical solution.
A New Model for Urban Sustainability
The challenge of sustainability in cities is well documented. According to the World Economic Forum, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050, increasing the urgency for new sustainability solutions.
At the same time, urban lifestyles make it difficult for individuals to engage with sustainability efforts. A 2023 study on urban greenery found that while 85 percent of city dwellers believe green spaces improve their well-being, few actively participate in sustainability programs.
Salami believes this disconnect exists because sustainability initiatives often feel abstract. Green Impact is designed to change that.
“What we’re doing with LetPlant is making sustainability personal, trackable, and rewarding,” he said.
How Green Impact Works
Green Impact is built on a progression system that turns sustainability into a game. Users start at the Seedling level and move through ranks—including Cultivator, Nurturer, and Flora Master—as they complete tasks like:
- Caring for plants regularly
- Reducing waste and making eco-conscious choices
- Participating in community-driven sustainability efforts
The concept is backed by research. A University of California study found that gamification increases sustainable behavior by 48 percent compared to traditional approaches.
At Accelerate HQ London, Salami highlighted how Green Impact taps into this psychology, encouraging users to see sustainability as something they can actively measure and improve upon.
“We’ve seen gamification work in fitness, finance, and education—why not sustainability?” he said.
Shifting Sustainability from Obligation to Engagement
One of Salami’s core arguments is that people need to feel personally invested in sustainability. He points to successful models like Duolingo’s language learning streaks and Fitbit’s fitness tracking, both of which rely on habit formation and micro-rewards.
LetPlant’s Green Impact applies these same principles to plant care and environmental responsibility. The app:
- Tracks progress over time and shows users their impact
- Offers rewards and badges for consistency
- Creates a social element, allowing users to engage with a broader green community
“If we can show people their daily actions are making a tangible difference—even in a small way—we make sustainability part of their identity,” Salami explained during his presentation.
Beyond Technology: Creating a Sustainability Movement
Salami is not just building an app—he is shaping a new conversation around urban sustainability.
He envisions a future where apps like LetPlant work in tandem with city sustainability programs. Some of the upcoming initiatives include:
- City-wide sustainability challenges, encouraging urban dwellers to contribute to greener neighborhoods
- Partnerships with eco-conscious brands, rewarding users for sustainable purchases
- AI-powered insights, offering tailored sustainability tips based on user behavior
“We’re proving that technology and sustainability don’t have to be at odds,” Salami said. “With the right incentives, we can make green habits as natural as checking your phone in the morning.”
A New Vision for Green Cities
At Accelerate HQ London, Salami emphasized that sustainability must evolve beyond awareness into action. Green Impact represents a practical way to integrate sustainability into everyday urban life, and LetPlant is leading the charge.
“It’s not about telling people to be sustainable,” he concluded. “It’s about making sustainability a habit that people actually want to maintain.”
For urban dwellers looking for an accessible, structured, and rewarding way to be more sustainable, LetPlant’s Green Impact offers a new path forward—one that proves that small actions, when sustained, can lead to significant change.
Download LetPlant and start your Green Impact journey today.
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