On Monday we pushed the button to launch our Kickstarter campaign for the new V2 Phox jug and in just 34 hours we have reached our funding goal of £15,000!
We have to be honest and say that launching a new product on Kickstarter can be pretty daunting. We've put in so much work over the last 18 months and it was vital for us to get off to a great start. If only we knew last week how much support people would have for us we wouldn't have been so nervous!
Reaching this goal so early gets the product on its way to having the huge impact we hoped for in the design process. Our backers will have a more beautiful, and most importantly, a more sustainable way to drink.
If you're not already aware of our wonderful new product, it contains a revolutionary refillable cartridge, recycled plastic and glass, letterbox delivery and a choice of filter refills to suit your tap water.
You can check out the campaign here and please back us if you haven't already.
It's so satisfying to have a vision, turn it into a product and see other people enjoying it and believing in the impact it can have. We are super happy to have you all on the mission to reduce single-use plastic with us. Thank you all so much!
The huge media exposure given to the plastic crisis over the past 12 months has given birth to a range of new ideas and measures to reduce both production and waste. Across the UK we've banned plastic cotton buds, hid and replaced plastic straws, introduced deposit return schemes and even forced tea companies and crisp manufacturers to rethink their packaging choices.
Quite a lot of movement in the short space of a year, considering the lack of action on plastic pollution for so long. It's amazing what some mainstream media exposure can do to propel an issue into the front of everyone's conscious.
The raft of measures to tackle plastic waste has triggered the revival of public water fountains with London leading the way by installing 20 new fountains over the summer and now following up with a proposal to install 100 new drinking taps across the city by the end of 2020.
Scottish Water's Smart Taps
Scottish Water has announced a new project to install smart top-up taps in 30 towns and cities over the next two years. These public drinking taps will track the volume of water filled up from each location and estimate the amount of money and plastic saved.
The locations are still to be finalised with local councils, however the first tap will be installed outside the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh. Scottish Water plans to install 10 taps by the end of March 2019, with the other 9 likely to be in Glasgow, Ayr, Dumfries, Dunfermline, Fort William, Milngavie, Oban, Inverness and Aberdeen.
Despite the rise against plastic bottles, not all areas of the UK are developing new, updated public drinking fountains. In Manchester there are no council maintained drinking taps while across 5 Merseyside council area there are also none.
Elsewhere, Tyne and Wear has one outdoor fountain in South Tyneside and two in Sunderland, while there are four across the West Midlands and one in West Yorkshire.
What Impact Will They Have?
It's hard to say how successful the new public drinking taps will be before they have been introduced, however there's no doubt they will help reduce plastic water bottle use. The data taken from the Scottish Water fountains will be interesting and the existing taps in London have been well received by the public.
There may also be a public health boost, with some advocates suggesting the water fountains are likely to reduce consumption of sugary drinks because the water is totally free for anyone to use. However, the true impact of the taps in terms of health is likely to be one which will be determined in years to come.
According to Scottish Water research, 65% of the public prefer tap water over other varieties and they also find that 36% carry reusable bottles always or often. These statistics provide a strong foundation for the fountains to be a success and given the reputed high quality of most Scottish tap water, there shouldn't be any taste issues for the public - the same thing can't be said of London!
When was the last time you did something to improve the health of your body?
Today? Yesterday? Last week?
Now, when was the last time you did something to improve the health of your brain?
When it comes to health, the scales are so often tipped towards the body. We all want to lose weight, gain muscle, or get leaner.
But we don't often think about training our brain and the various ways we can boost our cognitive health.
In order to help you enhance your onboard computer, we've put together a list of 5 simple ways you can boost your brain health:
1. Ditch Multi-Tasking
Aren't you tired of the age-old debate between sexes about who can and can't multitask?
Well, the good news is - no one can. At least not effectively.
Multitasking diminishes mental productivity, increases brain fatigue and creates stress. By trying to share our concentration and attention across more than one task we, in turn, give neither of the tasks the due care they deserve.
This scattered form of thinking creates a habitual cycle of distraction because your brain is trying to cover all bases.
If you focus on one task, you'll get things done much more effectively and efficiently while avoiding the mental fatigue generated by multitasking.
2. Practice Meditation
Meditation is rapidly becoming a widespread phenomenon. The ancient practice once exclusively associated with Buddism is being adopted across all cultures and demographics thanks to its wide-ranging benefits.
Taking as little 10 minutes per day to practice mindful meditation can reduce stress, calm your brain and improve memory & concentration.
This growth has kindled a tremendous amount of research into its effects. Scientific studies have found that meditation can also decrease physical pain, alleviate depression and increase happiness.
Practising meditation is probably the single biggest boost you can give your brain health.
3. Get Good Sleep!
One of the most powerful things you can do to protect your mental and physical health is to get good quality sleep.
Sleep cleanses your brain of the toxicity caused by stress and worry, and it is also vital for storing memory. On the other hand, lack of sleep causes a range of problems for your brain.
Dips from a normal, healthy sleeping pattern can cause a lack of concentration, falls in mental sharpness and increased irritability.
4. Start Yoga
If you're already familiar with meditation, why not try and practise yoga too?
Practising yoga has been shown to enhance cognitive performance and prevent cognitive decline in older people.
Scientific research of the benefits is so positive that yoga has been used to treat anxiety, insomnia, depression and even eating disorders. It has also been proven to improve wellness and self-control in large prison populations.
While there are various different types of yoga, the most simple form to get you started is Hatha Yoga. If you want to feel mentally revitalised, yoga might just be the refresher that you need.
5. Give Your Brain a Workout
Along with your trips to the gym this week, give your brain a workout by taking on a new cognitive challenge.
Learn a new language, pick up a musical instrument or take on a new puzzle. The benefits of taking on new cognitive challenges are extensive for your brain, particularly as you age.
