sustainable – Page 2

Why the Berkey water filter is our favourite

Published on October 14, 2020June 24, 2021 by EcoCouple4 Comments

^{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, and allows us to keep the content free for readers.This motivates us to stay on our mission of inspiring conscious consumerism.}

The Berkey Water Filter

We are extremely connected to all bodies of water, as are many of us. Be it in the ocean, a lake, a stream or river. I always feel calmer when close to water. I have always questioned the importance of water and which water we drink and how that affects us considering we are made up of such a large percentage of water.

Where is my water coming from? Is it alive? Has it been sitting in plastic bottles under the sun for months? How clean is it? I was curious about these things and tried to get the best water I could find.

Over the years I have tried many different water filters, from complicated filtration systems under the sink to countertop filters, to Kangen water, and honestly what sits right with me personally is: can I get water that is closest to the source of how nature intended us to drink it! I don’t even know if that sentence made any sense but what I mean is…. Is there a filter that would work if I found a natural water source, it can of course be tap water but I am thinking more like a natural waterfall. I eventually stumbled upon the Berkey on one of our trips, the house we rented had the filter. I was intrigued but not 100% convinced until, I went and collected fresh water from Iao Valley and brought it home to filter through my Berkey. So yes I admit I found my perfect water! I am not going to lie we do not always have the time to collect that precious water, so we sometimes use our fawcett and that tastes great too. We try to make it a weekly ritual with the family to drive an hour into the valley and collect water from its source, and it is always a great excuse to connect with nature and swim in the cold fresh water.

The travel Berkey is the one we ended up getting and I really like the size for a family of 3 and it is easy to travel with, also in case of an emergency we can even filter rain water through it. So we are super happy with it.

Pure Water flowing from a waterfall — Photo by Jonathan Meyer on Pexels.com

On the other side, imagine never having to buy a plastic bottle ever again!! (Well almost never) When you have your own filter at your house you never run out of water, you fill up your reusable bottle, my preferred bottle when we are out and about is The Yeti (Keeps things cold for a long time) and an absolute must have for home is my Blue Bottle, which I can lay under the full moon or energise with the sun…. water does not get better than this!

So whatever you choose to go with just be a part of the plastic pollution solution and drink your choice of filtered water wherever you are in the world.

If your choice is an under the sink filter we recommend Pristine Hydro.

Hydro Pristine

After lengthy research on under the counter filters, this is the most affordable and efficient one we found. You can spend thousands of dollars on other options but this one delivers perfect water to your home and has proven the test of time. Use code: ECOCOUPLE for your 10% discount

Sustainably yours,

Sanny and Family

Surf – Reduce Reuse Recycle – let’s do this!

Published on August 21, 2020November 23, 2020 by EcoCouple9 Comments

I really think that as lovers of all things water, be it surfing, paddling, kayaking or windsurfing. In part it is our duty to raise awareness about the plastic pollution in the ocean. The time has come when it is finally much easier to do this. I would much rather invest in a surf leash that is made from recycled plastics than contribute to more waste. Wouldn’t you? Wave Tribe makes such a leash and we are lucky enough to test it in the waters and are already so impressed! Another amazing plus is Wave Tribe gives you a one year guarantee on the leash. I don’t know any leash brand that does that.

surf leash made from recycled plastics — H

Honestly there is no reason any surfer should still be using wax with petroleum in it when we have an eco friendly option. This wax is made from organic beeswax and coconut oil. Simply the better choice. So let us protect our waters and support brands such as these.

Surf wax made from bees wax, non toxic — Here at Wave Tribe, we do our part by making it our mission to keep oceans safe from toxic surfing. We do this by creating stylish and eco-friendly surfing gear and products so that you don’t have to worry about harming the ocean while enjoying the benefits of surfing. – Wave Tribe

I often find myself wondering how we can do more. There are some really simple steps to being a more conscious surfer. We can always do a beach clean up after a good session. Or simply tell other surfers about brands like Wave Tribe, you can help us create that wave. Come be a part of our tribe.

We took it upon ourself to find an old second hand board… And paid very little for it. We figured that if it didn’t have the chance to go back in the water at least we would hang it on our wall as decoration. Well Iñaki worked hard on it, sanding it down several times and fixing the dings and dents (thank you Ding King for letting him use your space), we weren’t sure how it would hold up. Now just a few weeks after fixing it, not only did we find out that it was worth quite a bit of money, but I have been catching waves with it like crazy. Pretty much every time I take it out someone offers to buy it.

It is not for sale, it was a gift to me. I hope one day our son will get to use it, the hours of love and dedication that went in to it do not have a price in my eyes. It is by far one of the greatest birthday gifts I have ever been given.

The whole point of sharing this story however, even though there are some really nice Eco friendly surfboards surfacing on the market, and I am sure we will enjoy trying them at some point. There is something really magical about taking someone else’s trash and turning into your very own treasure.

To finish off this beauty of a board we were so excited to add our sustainable leash by Wave Tribe. So what can I say other than we are stoked and yes we’ve both been using the board now.

Have you refurbished something recently that you would like to inspire us with? We are always eager to hear your stories!

Thanks for reading and hopefully we will see you in the waves sooner rather than later.

Sustainably yours,

Eco Couple

P.S Thanks to Silversurfer72 we have just found out that this is a Skippy Slater model Takayama board!

If you liked this article check out our other article on sustainable surf apparel.

Takayama Surfboard refurbished, reused, and loved

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 . Allows us to keep the content free for readers and keeps us on our mission to inspire conscious consumerism.

5 Awesome Eco friendly Sustainable shoe brands

Published on June 19, 2019December 11, 2020 by EcoCoupleLeave a comment

I am so excited to have found these amazing sustainable shoe brands, I hope you like our selection and we always look forward to hearing from you. So please share your finds and suggestions.

SAOLA (USA)

misty blue sequoia shoes perched on a log — “Because we know that sixty to seventy percent of the environmental footprint of a pair of shoes is a result of the product’s materials, we’ve made eco construction the central pillar of our shoe development” – Soala

Saola is privy to the extent the shoe industry has been polluting our planet and are doing everything they can to #makeanimpact to change this. We got the sequoia in misty blue and are absolutely in love with them. However I must say there are so many beautiful styles and colours to choose from. It is so important to not have to compromise style when supporting and buying sustainable shoe brands and that is exactly the case with Saola, comfort, style and sustainability all in one.

Thank you and we look forward to owning more Soala shoes as the years go by. So take a step into a more ethical footprint and feel good about your next pair of shoes!

Verdura shoes (Italy)

This shoe comes in at number one for us….. not only is it stylish, vegan and just simply beautifully crafted. Not a day goes by that I do not get stopped on the street when I wear them. The shoe fits your feet like a glove, especially after wearing them in for a few days….. it is super comfortable and most importantly, eco conscious. From vegan leather to recycled fishing nets, this shoe exceeds every expectation from a vegan friendly shoe.

Beautifully handcrafted italian shoe made with recycled fishing nets one of the most beautiful sustainable shoe brands — Every detail is hand made and sourced locally in Tuscany

Hand crafted in Tuscany, Italy. With every detail sourced locally even using natural dyes, making each and every pair unique. Wether it is out and about with a pair of summer shorts or a fancy dress these shoes make their mark wherever they go…..and we are beyond ecstatic to have found them!!!!!

“Love for the planet is in the heart of Verdura as well as love for beauty and for the aesthetics” -Verdura

Beyond Skin (UK)

Every girl needs a good pair of high heels in her closet, so why not make it a vegan pair. This high heel is an all time classic style and by far one of my favourites, I absolutely love the peek a boo toe. This is a classic, timeless design that can always be worn. Dress them down with a pair of jeans, wear them on a red carpet or to a wedding. The shoe fits for every special occasion.

Their sustainable and leather-free footwear is all ethically and beautifully handmade in Spain. They have a beautiful selection of vegan shoes

Quoting Beyond Skin and a very interesting fact we did not know: ¨On average, one cow hide will provide 18 pairs of leather shoes and each pair of shoes is accountable for the use of over 1.4 million litres of water! This figure includes the water used to rear and slaughter the cow, and to process the hide in to leather.
Put simply, each time you purchase a new pair of leather shoes you are responsible for using as much water as having a bath everyday for over 40 years! In terms of disposal you’d think that leather products would be biodegradable, but the tanning agent renders it non biodegradable.¨

To me this is enough reason to look for a more sustainable option!

Simple Shoes (USA)

For a classic comfortable sneaker for men and women we have landed on these super comfy shoes. ¨Simple innovation in the form of an organic cotton canvas sneaker. A timeless style that will become a wardrobe staple. The textile lined memory foam insoles support and cushion your every step for maximum comfort.

There are no harmful dyes used and the materials are held together with eco-friendly water based glues. The flat cotton laces are made from 100% recycled cotton; and yes, it is a vegan shoe. A classic organic cotton canvas sneaker that goes well with whatever music is playing.¨ Now how would you chose any other sneaker over this one….¨memory sole insoles are absolutely something worth a try!

GUMBIES (USA,UK, AUSTRALIA)

These may be the most comfortable flip flops we have ever owned, Iñaki loves them just as much as I do! Inspired by tires and mad e from recycled rubber these flip flops have their own unique look and are truly a great price. We hope to own many more of them, and there are so many wonderful colours to choose from, we have yet to try the cork flip flops but do not doubt that they will probably be amazing too.

The Outback Slipper is made using 8 recycled plastic bottles, how amazing is that. For more info read up on it on their website. There is nothing greater than a good surf session and then slipping into a nice warm slipper, no matter what part of the world you happen to be in.

After a good surf session at hookipa, Hawaii

So all in all we have introduced you to our favourite eco conscious shoe brands for every and any occassion and look forward to hearing from you to discover more brands you would love to share with us!

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, helps us pay our growing core team, allows us to keep the content free for readers and keeps us on our mission to inspire conscious consumerism.

Eco-Friendly Bedding

Published on May 22, 2019August 16, 2020 by sanny van heterenLeave a comment

If you stop and think about the fact that you spend almost a whole third of your life in Bed ….Do you not deserve to be lying in what is the best bed and bedding ever?

We believe it is essential to sleep with comfortable and healthy, organic bedding and our always on the lookout for brands that are aligned with nature! Lana Care has introduced us to a fibre we knew nothing about. Kapok (Ceiba) fabric, it is super cozy and it’s function is very innovative. Kapok fiber is harvested from the fluffy fiber surrounding the seeds of the tropical kapok tree. One of the things I personally like is that the Ceiba plant is like horses hair, hollow on the inside, which makes it breathable. It wicks moisture away throughout the night. Which is incredibly important as we all sweat at night. It is also referred to as the lightest fibre in the world. It is extra fluffy and comfy.

We are thrilled with Kapok (Ceiba) through and want to thank our friends over at Lana Care for sending us the lovely duvet…. It feels like silk!

“Sleep is the best meditation” – Dalai Lama

We encourage you, if you cannot currently buy a new organic mattress atleast invest in an organic topper and enjoy some extra special cozy bedding for an extra special nights rest, every night! Good night!

Socks, Socks, Socks…Where is the second one?

Published on March 14, 2019March 13, 2019 by EcoCoupleLeave a comment

If you are like us you are in constant search for the second sock! With babies, especially when they are learning how to crawl and walk, this can be a challenge.

We came across a brand that made that a little easier for us AIDIE LONDON, not only are they super cute they are also “Award-Winning Baby Booties. Designed by specialists in Child Psychology.” according to their website.

Lined with Organic Cotton, they are soft and cozy, keep your babies feet warm and allow for sensory stimulation to the soles of your babies feet….which when they are learning how to walk is especially important.

What we like most is the little buttons that keep the booties on your babies feet, even if they do try and pull them off, they stay on. In addition they get to grow in to them as they are adjustable, which at their growth rate is very convenient to get to use them a little while longer.

We can finally be done with lost socks! EcoCouple definitely approves of these booties!

To purchase and help us continue our mission please go to our affiliate link:

AIDIE LONDON BOOTY

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.

Conscious Traveler: Maui, Hawaii 🇺🇸

Published on March 6, 2019November 5, 2020 by EcoCouple1 Comment

We have been blessed with the opportunity to have traveled to Maui, Hawaii for almost two months. Iñaki was competing in a windsurfing contest, The Aloha Classic (IWT), a life long dream, and I was blessed to enjoy motherhood and continue researching eco conscious brands. Upon arrival we came across a wonderful photographer…that took some of the pictures in this article….who not only did the shoot with us but also recommended some of the amazing brands we ended up collaborating with. Thank you Chelsea! If you are headed for Maui it is definitely worth it to capture this stunning place with some beautiful photographic memories.

Maui was especially fun as we not only came across really inspiring brands but also made friends for life. Our first stop was Mana foods, of course we had to stock up for our adventures. Surprisingly the prices are quite similar to Los Angeles. Mana foods is also the place you can be quite entertained simply standing in front of the store, you may be serenaded by a harp or find yourself philosophising about God and the world, you know what I mean if you have been there. This is where we found our water source now we just needed to find the right container.

We were so very blessed to meet Kayden, of Blue Bottle Love, we were taken into her humble abode. Surrounded by beams of sunlight filtered by the cobalt blue bottles ….making her home and workspace even more magical. Our meeting turned into a 5 hour extravaganza, including everything from Meditation to the whole story of how Blue Bottle Love came about.

From that day on… at least one blue bottle (1 gallon:-) made it with us wherever we would go. The water tasted clean, conscious and simply delicious.

Blue Bottle Love photo by Chelsea Heller Photography

Iñaki was windsurfing every day and getting ready for the competition, now the sun is strong in Maui so it was imperative we found the right sunscreen, that was reef safe to keep us all protected while making sure we were not harming our environment. That is when we came across Raw Love Sunscreen Jenna also received us in her home and explained to us about all the harmful ingredients sunscreens use and how they damage the reefs and coral. We were so excited about this knowledge that we decided to speak to the people of IWT (International Windsurfing Tour) and got Raw Love Sunscreen to become a sponsor for the event, thereby educating and keeping us and the nature around us safe.

We also came across a very innovative brand located right in Paia. Ellemer we wrote a separate article on them check it out for a discount code.

One of the brands we were very happy to find was was Green Toy. You can purchase them at the organic food market ¨Down to Earth” – really close to the airport and Kanaha beach. Being on Maui and having fun toys for the beach is imperative and these ones are made from recycled milk bottles, how cool is that, so we had to get in touch with the brand and test them out. Atlantis, our son, loves them, they are perfect for the beach and the bath tub. The boat even turns into a watering can.

Chelsea suggested so many other local brands that are fully green-eco; on an Island you especially realise how important it is to consume less and make wiser choices. All and all we are so happy to have had the chance to experience Maui and visit its gems like Lumeria (best home made veggie burger I have ever tried), or the lavender fields, the local farmers market, also if you invest in a fruit picker and have a good eye you can eat fruit right from the trees, a must try the local banana bread on the road to Hana (We recommend you download a guide before heading out in the very early hours of the morning, as you will lose reception and there are many magical stops to make), taste the orange passion fruits and the delicious papayas, there is also a local Kombucha brewery in Haiku…but be warned too much kombucha and you might get a booch high as they like to call it (don’t drink and drive)……. Last but not least our favorite restaurants by far…. Nuka sushi in Haiku…. Go for the elaborate rolls…. And for a delicious organic pizza…. Flatbread company in Paia is the place to go!

Lastly we came across a really special store and brand, in Lahaina, they have the most beautiful swimsuits made of recycled ghost nets….. They are very original in their designs and I absolutely love mine!!!!! Kelley Chapman the owner of Manakai is a true eco goddess and lives and breathes a sustainable lifestyle…. Please check out her blog and amazing projects! 💕

One really great insider tip: at the Kuau store, if you wait to the end of the day, you can get their Ahi Poke for half price, and it is DELICIOUS!! If you have been to Maui you know it isn’t cheap to eat…. So that is a good one…. Speaking of savings… It is absolutely worth it to get a costco card…. The gasoline is waaay cheaper and they have lots of delicious organic food in bulk!

One more thing, don’t miss the sunsets on the south side of the island, or the sunrises for that matter, thousand peaks for example. So many things pop into my mind… Try the Açai at Choice, and the Fish tacos at the Fish Market….. It is a place to revisit for sure!

Thousand peaks is also a great spot to go surfing for anyone…. From beginner to advanced, there is a peak for everyone…. Hence the name.

As for the windsurfing spots…. This island is a playground for all levels… . For the more advanced windsurfer you can pretty much find conditions at ho’okipa every other day… And for the not so skilled, kanaha works pretty much every day! Both places are about thirty minutes apart.

If you are visiting maui with children we highly recommend the Maui Ocean Centre…. The tunnel is an experience to remember, especially for the little ones, and they have a lot of amazing info on helping and preserving marine life.

To finish this article we wanted to share an experience we had: During the IWT Windsurfing Competition, we participated in an ocean clean up: in Ho’okipa this can be tricky: We were only a few people and it was about to be cancelled due to the big swell that was hitting the spot. Both Boujma and me (Sanny) decided to do it anyway, and in the end most of the people decided to get wet and join us. We ended up collecting about 60 masts, and some booms, fins….. the point is if you are enjoying the island, leave it cleaner than you found it so that future generations can enjoy it as much as we did.

For extra exclusive Maui tips….. feel free to write to us anytime at sustainablecouplegoals@gmail.com we may hand out a phone number or two!

Thank you for stopping by our blog…..and feel free to leave comments and help us grow!

Water: Say goodbye to plastic 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

Published on February 24, 2019March 1, 2019 by sanny van heterenLeave a comment

The first thing that attracted our attention when visiting Tapp´s website, is the display that shows the number of plastic bottles that are no longer consumed when using filters such as this. We are using the model Tapp 2 Twist, that has biodegradable cartridges. Tapp filters eliminate more than 80 water contaminants and reduces another 50, while keeping the essential minerals needed for the human body.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is tapp2filter.png

Collectively TAPP users have successfully avoided 4 million plastic bottles since their launch in 2017. And this is only one of the few brands that currently exist in the market. This shows that we can really have an impact using these filters.

It’s very convenient to fill up your glass bottle before you head out of the house; the combination of filtered water-glass bottle is simply perfect. If we are made up of more than 70% water, how do you not pay attention to the water we drink?

With each cartridge you filter up to 1500 liters, more or less 2-3 months of daily use; if you drink bottled water, you calculate how much money you save. (Tapp filter plus 4 cartridges – yearly budget – costs around $100).

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is tappwaterfacts.png

If you have access to a natural water spring and can filter the water, then you and your family are covered for your water needs whilst being responsible and sustainable; if you live in a city however, with no access to a spring, the filter is good enough. There are several options to think about when it comes to the water you consume, any option will be better than drinking water out of plastic bottles.

It is affordable: Filtered tap water is over a hundred times cheaper than bottled water.

It is sustainable: TAPP 2 refills use biodegradable (around 80%) materials which can be disposed of with organic waste

TAPP 2 refill cartridges are made entirely out of non-toxic materials which remain inert after decomposing.

For more info, please visit: TAPPWATER

To purchase click on the corresponding flag. Thank you.

🇺🇸 🇩🇪 . 🇪🇸 . 🇬🇧

Elle Mer Eco Swimwear 🇺🇸

Published on January 26, 2019March 13, 2019 by EcoCouple1 Comment

When recently visiting the island of Maui we did some research on brands that were trying to have a positive influence on our environment…. We will post a more detailed blog in the near future…. for now we wanted to single out one of them: Elle Mer is a company that makes their swimwear from recycled fishing nets and produce in their own little factory in Paia, Maui. We went to visit and loved what we saw…. Here a few of my favourites… I was very postpartum in these photos but a proud mama 🙂

You can use this discount code to get 10% off : SAVE10SANNY

*A small % of this sale will go to Ecocouple to continue promoting eco-friendly brands

Thank you for coming back to our blog and helping us make this world a better place!

Conscious Traveler- Destination Tarifa

Published on June 20, 2017November 24, 2020 by EcoCouple2 Comments

The greatest thing about Tarifa is its wilderness, it is surrounded by rolling hills and stretches of beaches beyond the eye can see. It is the idealic paradise for any wind related activity. Nature in raw form leaving you time and time again with your jaw slightly dropped as you stare out into the Mediterranean or Atlantic (depending what beach you’re r on).

As I have lived in LA for the last two decades (very spoiled) I seem to be on the constant search for organic and sustainable products while traveling. I believe it is absolutely imperative that we all stand together with where we spend our money.

In lieu of this I have found my favourite places to shop and be fashionable in the most amazing places in the world. This story starts in tarifa….

I came across a fabulous ultra chic and sexy sustainable line. I got to wear one of her fabulous outfits for the Cannes film festival this year. Maria Malo, her line is produced sustainably in Bali.

For a discount please enter code SANNYFRIENDS

She also has an organic bamboo yoga line that I absolutely love too.