I founded Opus Mind with one simple mission: to empower consumers with sustainable options that ensure the health of our beautiful planet. – Kathleen Kuo
Opus Mind delivers a classic sustainable backpack to last a lifetime. Classy beautiful leather that will be a part of our family for life. It is sleek, intrinsically handcrafted and simply put: a classic. When speaking to Kathleen Kuo I was so impressed in her attention to detail, every aspect of the way she is running this brand has been thought out.
Kathleen used to work at Chanel in her previous life and was so distraught as to how much was actually wasted in production. This inspired her down the path of sustainability. Opus Mind’s bags are handmade in Italy, and the leather used to make them is actually the scraps from a factory that makes gloves. How cool is this?
Recycled from scraps to make these exquisite pieces. I have to say I am already looking forward to owning the Saddle Crossbody when I am back in the city.
I truly cannot emphasise enough the quality of these bags. The detail in the craftsmanship is superb. These bags are functional and match any occasion. A day out in the city or a day at the beach, this bag looks good wherever you take it. The thought that the scraps that are used to make this bag would have ended up in landfills polluting our planet, instead you get to treasure it and pass it down to your kids, just like your grandfathers old classic briefcase!
Mine still looks brand new and I look forward to seeing how it ages. Send us pictures with you and your ¨Opus Mind¨ we would love to share them.
It is that time…we can purchase sustainable surf accessories for the sports we love. You are never too old or young to start this sport and it brings such happiness and moments of communing with nature! For this reason alone the Hawaiian words “Malama Aina” resonate so much with us! Take care of the land and the land will take care of you- in the same way take care of the ocean and the ocean will take care of you!! It is our mission to inspire this philosophy with every article we write! We as surfers are so blessed to enjoy the ocean and we want to introduce brands to you that help us make conscious choices when purchasing things for the outdoors so we can support the surfer lifestyle in style! Our individual actions support the collective impact. When you support sustainable ethical brands you are shaping a better world for future generations. These are some of our very favourite sustainable surf accessories!
Eco Couple uses affiliate links. We promote products we have tried ourselves and truly believe in. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running.Allows us to keep the content free for readers.This motivates us to stay on our mission of inspiring conscious consumerism.
Wave Tribe is one of our best finds out there in the ethical surf world! They have incredible products from hemp travel bags to wax made from bees wax to surf leashes made from recycled plastic and the most amazing surfboard sock! They also have a really interesting podcast all about the surf world and there is even an interview with us you can hear it here ¨Leaving the Rat Race for Slow living in Hawai’i¨ an other really cool thing I would like to mention is that they have a guarantee on their leashes, correct me if I am wrong but I don’t know any other surfleas that gives you that type of guarantee. So really it should be a no brainer as to where your next leash comes from. We can both attest myself on my longboard and Iñaki in really big waves our leashes have stood the test of time.
This is the perfect place for the outdoor enthusiast. We love the hammock as it is the perfect accessory for a family outing surf day. There is nothing better than a nap after an amazing surf session while listening to the ocean in the background while you slumber. Our son loves it too from playing in with his friends to taking some of his most satisfying naps. We also have our eye on the blankets! So wether you are headed to your next surf destination or going skiing this eco minded store has great products and is the type of store we should be supporting. This store ships worldwide.
This surf poncho is an absolute eye catcher. Every time I wear it someone asks me where it is from! This brand is a small brand located in Spain and they are making things with organic cotton, bamboo and most importantly sustainably! Another Surf brand at the very top of our list, support this woman in her endeavours supporting women. We are happy to announce that we are proud ambassadors of this brand! We look forward to seeing you in your poncho on your next surfcation.
These shoes are made from recycled tire soles. They are stylish comfortable and most importantly durable. We really recommend this brand for the beach, as the wear and tear of wet feet and sand can sometimes take down even the best flip flops. These stand the test of time and they have some beautiful colors too. We love our Indosole flip flops.
This new and local Hawaiian brand is another true inspiration and most importantly is a great surf bikini. If you surf as much as I do you probably know what it is like to have a suit that keeps slipping all over the place when you are in the water. This suit sits firmly throughout your whole surf session and is ever so stylish and of course made from regenerated nylon!
Thanks for reading and hope to see you in the water and maybe even share a wave or two.
We are so happy to introduce you to these two eco-conscious sustainable headphones. We think it is so important to make the more conscious purchase in all areas of our lives and these are two brands that offer us a great eco-friendly option when it comes to headphones and speakers.
Pogs are really a great pair of sustainable headphones for kids! We especially love the volume control they have and the way they fit on the little ones heads. Kids can play freely with them while listening to their favourite music or stories. We absolutely love playing stories four our son. It keeps him entertained and it gives him a chance for some down time.
We have even recorded some of our most beloved books and put them on an mp3 for him. I think he likes listening to his parents read his favourite books. The head phones are made of recycled plastics and sustainably. They also have a small port so that siblings or friends can listen to something together as pictured above. We highly recommend you support this small brand that is truly making a mark in children’s headphones.
House of Marley makes headphones that are not only sustainable but sound incredible and their mission is to make their headphones with mother earth as their priority. We are completely aligned with this brand and its mission and highly recommend their products. As avid music lovers we look forward to trying some of their speakers and turntables in the future.
Eco Couple uses affiliate links. We promote products we have tried ourselves and truly believe in. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running.Allows us to keep the content free for readers.This motivates us to stay on our mission of inspiring conscious consumerism.
Make up is really one of the products we should be paying a good amount of our attention too. For way too long we have been covering our skin, eyes and lips with toxic products to make us look better. Never really stopping to think about what our make up is made of. It is not always easy to find good brands with beautiful pigmentation, that actually work and makes you look good but is also be good for your skin and are made with no artificial ingredients, vegan and as clean as can be. As we age it is ever more so important that we keep our skin hydrated and nourished. These are a few brands that do these things as well as really help you make more responsible, sustainable choices for our make up brands. Please see this post for more Beauty Products.
We created a brand that solidifies our commitment to make beauty more unifying while maintaining the cleanest and greenest standards
I truly love the colours and quality of the Dome products. From brushes to blushes this brand carries it all and not only that they offer an amazing recycling program. So when you have used up your product you can mail back your container for recycling and a credit to wards your next purchase. It sure does sound appealing because I would like to try and never have to throw plastic away uselessly again if possible. This brand is a step toward a better future and we at eco couple fully support their mission.
Gabriel products offer consumers earth conscious and ethical options to their beauty needs.
Another great brand that also offers two other eco-friendly brands on their platform. This is eco-friendy, cruelty free beautiful make up. I love the pressed powder make up as well as the eyebrow pencil. They have absolutely everything for a clean sleek look. They are committed to sustainable natural beauty and earth-conscious practices that keep our ocean blue, our planet green, and our animals safe. I can honestly say that you can feel good about purchasing any of the brands listed and also fall in love with the quality of the products. They also reward recycling your used items, for every 5 you send back to them they send you a lipstick to show their gratitude. What’s not to love?
I personally have been using Josie Maran for over a decade, and her products have just gotten better with time. My absolute must haves is her Argan Oil and I have carried a all purpose Argan color stick in my bag for as long as I can remember. Wether you need to plump up your cheeks or give your lips a little bit of colour. This has been my go to from the day they first launched it. I love how creamy it is and it feels nourishing on my skin. It is an absolute no brainer and I highly recommend you give it a try.
I have tried the highlighter, the blush stick and the bare lip balm and I have to say I really like these products. I also really love the packaging and attention to detail that goes into the sustainability aspect of this product. I really love it when a brand goes the extra mile to create something that is as low waste as possible all the while also giving back by planting trees and supporting the ocean project.
You can also purchase River Organics at Earth Hero in the beauty section and use code: Ecocouple for 10% off
If powdered make up is your style this is the right place for you. What is great here is they have a really awesome sample kit that you can purchase so you know exactly what shade is right for your skin. Once you have found the right shade for you, you can always replace your make up with refillable compacts. They have a beautiful selection of cream blush and gorgeous eye shadows. Another awesome brand we should be supporting!
So just to remind you that you do not have to compromise on quality for your most beautiful looks!! You can also give back to the planet and support amazing causes next time you shop for make up. Making more sustainable choices, creating less waste and protecting our animal kingdom – really its pretty easy to do wha is right for your skin and our planet. I would love to hear from you and learn about new products. So please feel free to share your experiences.
Eco Couple uses affiliate links. We promote products we have tried ourselves and truly believe in. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running.Allows us to keep the content free for readers.This motivates us to stay on our mission of inspiring conscious consumerism.
This is one area we often forget about in the world of sustainability. Yet it is so important to own a good pair of sustainable sunglasses. With or without prescriptions it is imperative, this day and age, to protect our eyes from harmful uv rays. Why would we not purchase from brands that have the best interest of our environment at heart? Here are 5 Sustainable eyewear brands we hope you will come to love and support.
We really care about what we do. Your vision matters to us. The Environment matters to us. – Eco Eyes
I am beyond excited to introduce to you a brand that produces prescription glasses made ethically. They use a selection of bio-plastics, sustainable woods, ocean plastics, hand assembled, BPA and phthalate free acrylics, and cotton acetates. To add to that they also plant 5 trees for every pair of glasses sold. Wether it is eye glasses or sunglasses you need with or without prescriptions and even with a blue light filter as an option. Eco Eyewear has a fabulous collection to choose from. The hard case is also great to protect from them getting damaged when in your handbag.
Zeal Optics See Grass frames combine 70% recycled plastics and 30% grass fibers in a closed-loop system to create our most sustainable sunglasses yet. – Zeal Optics
Zeal Optics are definitely extremely innovative, making their sustainable sunglasses from a combination of grass and recycled plastic bottles. These glasses are super stylish and an absolute dream to look through. The quality of the polarised lenses is really notable. So without compromising style or durability these sunglasses are among the most sustainably made on the market. We really love them and the brand behind them and highly recommend you try a pair for yourselves.
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. It uses less water than traditional woods, and puts more oxygen back into the air! Plus it doesn’t require chemical fertilizers, making it safer for the earth and farmers. Not only is bamboo naturally lightweight, it’s also stronger than steel!
At SOLO Eyewear, we create environmentally responsible sunglasses that restore vision for people in need. We strongly believe in living a life of adventure and inspiring individuals to change the world – Solo eyewear
Solo eyewear is also on our list, with amazing polarised lenses that make the world look a whole lot nicer when you look through them. They work with repurposed wood, repurposed bamboo and Cellulose Acetate (Cellulose acetate is an eco-friendly material made from cellulose obtained from wood produced in sustainably managed forests . After disposal, it returns to nature through the activity of water and microorganisms.)
So as you can see they are not only doing the right thing but they are giving back to the world, helping people in need. Can you imagine a world where we all did that? We can make that happen by supporting these brands that are truly making a difference, and casting our vote by where we spend our money.
I really want to remind people how important each and every one of our actions is, and the impact it has. We have been researching the sustainable world for almost a decade now and it is so wonderful to see all these amazing brands, and the people behind them, supporting each other and the mission to give back to our earth!
Thank you!!!! For if you are reading this you are a part of my soul family… thank you for taking the time to research products and trying to find the better option.
With each product sold we are working together to leave this place better than we found it, by creating and promoting a sustainable consumer culture. Thank you for standing with Swell and voting with your dollar to make a positive impact on the future of our planet. – Swell Vision
Light weight, classy and sustainably made with bamboo, you can barely feel you are even wearing glasses. They are polarised and look just as good on him than they do on her, if I may say so myself.
What we most love about this brand is their dedication to our future generations, Swell Vision is a sponsor for the Green School in Bali, supporting our future green change-makers. So we highly recommend them for their products as well as their support to our green community.
We all love a good Spring Cleaning every now and then. I really love the concept of a sustainable ¨Capsule Wardrobe.¨ The term was coined by Susie Faux in the 1970’s A Capsule wardrobe consists of a collection of essential items that do not go out of style, that you can mix and match in many different ways. Saving you time, figuring out what to wear, and most importantly money. We are focusing on how to move towards the sustainable Capsule Wardrobe, for me this is a dream come true!
I will be featuring pictures from Pic Style out of the UK in this article and also take a look at Vetta Capsule if you are interested in some great basics. I must say we have very much have fallen in love Pic Style….. so many ways to wear these amazing pieces. 8 pieces = more than 50 outfits… how cool is that! Here are a few!
In the meantime let’s talk about how to evolve your very own wardrobe into something more manageable and hopefully more ethically conscious. I once heard a fun tip to start misting out the closet….If you turn all your hangers the other way around….and in one year check on what you have not worn….that is a really nice way of moving on from some of your clothing items.
Always sharing these items with friends or donating them to a good cause. As they say ¨one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.¨ I am very lucky in that respect as I have several friends that know me well enough and call me to come take a look when they are cleaning out their wardrobe!
The minimalist approach can seem overwhelming when it comes to clothes, but you would be surprised if you actually wrote down what you wore every day you would notice that you often repeat the clothes you really love and neglect a far larger percentage of what you own. So why not start donating the things you do’t wear and simplify your wardrobe.
Some companies have made this easier by creating a Capsule Wardrobe and helping you with ideas of how to wear them…they are especially great when you can wear them inside out or back to front to create new looks. We had the opportunity to do a lovely photoshoot with a few of PicStyle pieces…. I made a point to take these pictures with my sister who is twenty years younger than me, to show how ageless and timeless these pieces truly are. I hope you like them!
I am thrilled to say that there are so many exciting brands that are gearing towards this kind of wardrobe and that is what we thrive on over here @ecocouple For some more fun pieces take a browse through one of our recent posts ¨Favourite Sustainable Brands 2020¨
We would love to hear about your capsule wardrobe!
Years ago…I met someone that changed my life… he worked with Marma Therapy and an accupressure mat, I had just had a horrible accident and was having difficulty healing my torn hamstring. I was explained that I needed to get the blood flowing in that area….and voila.. I was introduced to my first acupressure mat. I used it to put pressure on the area and get the circulation moving. I then discovered how wonderful I felt by simply walking on it every morning for a few minutes. I remember distinctly breaking out in a a sweat the first time I walked for about three minutes…I felt activated and alive my injury healed very soon after.
Years later on my trip to Maui, we had rented a house from a friend of ours, she had the Spoonk mat, I remembered my old mat that I eventually lost on my travels. When looking into the company I found that this was the new and improved version….made from hemp and ABS plastic….
this was right up my alley. I had to contact with the company right away. Well what can I say…we hit it off!!! Not only do they have mat in all sizes….they also carry A magnetic roller that just feels amazing when you roll it down your back! Use it before yoga or before throwing on a pair of heels!
I have recently started using it also for better sleep by lying on it before going to bed...which is imperative at this point of my life...being a new mother and all. What I most love is what I mentioned earlier...to lightly tread on the Mat first thing in the morning. I can feel it activating every part of me. When you first start out you may want to wear light socks.
Update: I have been using the mat for over a year now, and honestly I love it so much, even if I feel a headache coming on, I roll it up and place it under my neck, and the headache just goes away! I truly recommend this product!
Use acupressure mat with socks when starting out
Acupressure Mat Travel Size
Get yours here SPOONKSPACE and use code ECOCOUPLE for a discount …….. and they ship WORLDWIDE!
Eco Couple uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running, helps us pay our growing core team and allows us to keep the content free for readers and keeps us on our mission to inspire conscious consumerism.
Organic almond Oil: 7 Health Benefits and Uses for your Body Care 🇬🇧
Hello everybody, today I am very excited to present this guest blog post by Attitude Organic, a sustainable lifestyle platform. Thanks to this post, I will share with you some of their advice in terms of natural beauty, in particular about a healthful essential oil.
If you are interested to discover the properties and the benefits of some essential oils, Attitude Organic has already discussed them in a previous post called Must Have Essential Oils. However, this article is focuses on the seven almond essential oil benefits for your health. The almond oil is emollient, moisturizing, soothing and elasticizing and it can be used as a multipurpose, non-toxic beauty treatment. Organic Almond Oil
Almonds are the edible seeds of the Prunus dulcis tree, more commonly known as the almond tree. They are very rich in fat, making them a perfect source of oil. There are two kind of almonds: sweet and bitter almonds. The first ones are the variety typically eaten and used to make foods, oils and cosmetics. The bitter almonds instead can have fatal consequences if ingested. Meanwhile, bitter almonds are believed to have
medicinal properties, they contain a glycoside called amygdalin which turns into toxic hydrocyanic acid during processing. Sweet Almond oil uses for hair and skin
The sweet almond oil comes exclusively from edible almonds that are selectively cultivated for their sweet taste. This oil is popularly used for skin and hair care. Several brands sell the organic Almond Oil. I personally use the one from Miaroma, but they are all very similar. The most important thing is that you buy a 100% pure one.
Let’s see the seven different ways of using almond oil to enhance our health and beauty. 7 Almond essential oil benefits
1. To moisturize your hands
The Organic almond oil is a good moisturizer for our hands. Hands are parts of our body that are exposed to bad weather conditions. Furthermore, the detergents that we usually use for the care of the house make them even more irritated and chapped. As a remedy, every night before going to sleep we should massage our hands with almond oil. It helps to prevent blemishes and skin aging.
2. To make a Homemade Scrub
Second, if you are looking for a good home-made and cheap scrub, almond oil is one of the ingredients you need to make it. In particular, you need to mix four tablespoons of organic almond oil with two tablespoons of brown sugar. This scrub is suitable for both face and body and you should use it on wet skin once or twice a week!
3. As make-up remover
In my opinion, oils are one of the best choices to remove make-up! massage it straight onto dry skin and it will lift away all make up. Gentle enough to remove eye makeup also, even waterproof mascara slides off easily with a gentle massage of organic almond oil. Furthermore, if you apply a very small amount of it to eyelashes (use a cotton tip) and eyebrows nightly, this will nourish, strengthen, and help them to grow. If you have oily or tend to have acne skin, I suggest you the use of oils every once in a while.
4. To protect your hair
In addition, almond oil is also excellent for hair care. In particular, during the summer it is recommended to use it on the lengths to protect your hair from the sun’s rays. Apply it to slightly damp hair, insisting on lengths and ends.
5. To make your skin soft
It is now clear to everyone that almond oil makes our skin very soft. But which one is the right way to apply it on your whole body?
When you take a shower after rinsing, use a dime-sized portion of organic almond oil into your palm, then massage it well on your still wet skin. At this point, rinse it quickly and then dry gently your skin.
Following these short steps, you can use almond oil on your body, but without having that uncomfortable sticky effect.
6. To Relieve Eczema & Psoriasis
As already said, the organic almond oil is emollient. It has anti-inflammatory properties so it is good for helping calm eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and extremely dry skin conditions
7. To prevent and reduce stretch marks
Among the almond essential oil benefits, a study shows that it is one of the most effective natural remedy in controlling stretch marks. The results are very prominent in women who were regular in applying almond oil during pregnancy.
Have you ever used organic almond oil? How do you use it? Do you prefer moisturizing oils or creams?
This article is written by Sabrina from the team of Attitude Organic. It is a sustainable lifestyle platform which aims to help you to adopt a more sustainable Attitude and lifestyle in the easiest possible way. Marine, the founder of Attitude Organic, and her team give to their readers precious tips about healthy food, natural beauty, sustainable fashion and yoga. If you liked this article and you are interested to know more about Attitude Organic, visit their blog.
Thank you Attitude Organic for this super helpful article!
Eco Couple’s favourite Almond oil is by Naissance oil, organic and cold pressed. If you are interested in other oils for your face take a look at our Beauty post on ¨Conscious beauty brands¨
Thank you for reading … if you would like to share one of your articles on our blog feel free to contact us EcoCouple
“Sabías que en media cada niño utiliza 11.000 pañales en su vida? Y sabías que cada pañal tarda unos 500 años en descomponerse? Haz tú las cuentas. Creo que es buen momento para invertir en pañales sostenibles.
Con esta información, no podemos evitar comprar pañales lo más ECO que encontramos. En medio de esa búsqueda nos hemos cruzado con PINGOuna marca que definitivamente cree e intenta hacer las cosas diferentes, mejores para todos. Entre los comentarios que podemos hacer, destacamos que nuestro hijo en sus casi 11 meses de vida prácticamente no ha tenido rozaduras o problemas de piel con sus pañales. Seguramente influya su alimentación, pero pienso que ha sido muy en parte por la calidad de sus pañales, libres de toxinas, cloros u otros componentes poco naturales usados habitualmente en ésta prenda de usar y tirar.
A nuestro bebe le encantan, hemos probado varias marcas y éstos son de los que no gotean. Absorben bastante y efectivamente no irritan la piel del bebé; a mí me da mucha confianza que los pañales no tocan productos tóxicos ni cloro, si lo pensamos el bebé está mucho tiempo con el pañal puesto. Me recuerda que las mujeres usan tampones que tampoco están hechos con químicos nocivos, igual no tiene nada que ver pero a mí me lo parece. Tantas horas en contacto, creo que es un tema a tener en cuenta. Sin tóxicos, libres de cloro y más absorbentes. En Francia es el pañal ecológico mas vendido, y en temas de producto ecológico creo que los Franceses junto con los Alemanes nos llevan ventaja, me da confianza.
Son biodegradables, tienen el certificado FSC y Totally Chlorine Free, que certifica que tratan la celulosa con agua oxigenada.
En nuestra opinion es la mejor opción.
Si quieres apoyar a Eco Couple puedes comprarlos pinchando aquí: PINGO
Ah, por cierto, Pingo también hace unas toallitas que funcionan una maravilla y son 100% biodegradables. Ya que estas nosotros compramos la caja de 12 y a si no nos quedamos sin!
Gracias por leernos. Si os interesan juguetes sostenibles mirar que chula es laJirafa Sophie.
