Ecotribo News

recycled ocean plastic workshops and demos

A new solar lamp made from recycled ocean plastics

When we love something deeply, we will always protect it. This is the premise of Ecotribo and one of the reasons I started it. It started out as a passion project and side hustle. I wanted to make a difference for people and the planet through thoughtful eco-design. My mission is to help promote positive outcomes…

Ocean Plastics Suck Sculpture made from recycled ocean plastics, wood and bio-resin

Ocean plastic is everywhere and an urgent response is needed from the government and the marine industries. Marine Scotland is updating its Marine Strategy which was last published in 2014 and is out for consultation. A comprehensive response to the marine litter strategy has been written by Scottish charity plasticatbay.org with some key findings for…

A story of how we cleaned the coast of ocean plastic ghost nets and turned them into a recycled ocean plastic plant pot

Production has started on a unique, designer, decorative plant pot made from recycled ocean plastics. The Ecotribo ‘Oceana’ plant pot is being made locally on the south west coast of England, Bristol. The idea is different to any other plant pots on the market for a number of reasons. All of them are positive and…

Positive eco news stories that I come across on a bi-weekly basis so I hope you can feel energised and be inspired to work towards positive outcomes for our planet.

How to design a more environmentally friendly product and make it better?

I’ve always been looking for a wetsuit hanger that can hold all my surf gear in one place. Also something with a mission to help our environment and find solutions to ocean waste. Ecotribo has been my side project for the last few years and it’s gathering steam- Designing products that ‘Clean our seas and…

Plant pot made from recycled ocean plastics

A eco-friendly wetsuit made from recycled wetsuits and FSC wood

Ecotribo has launched a new mountain bike mudguard made from 100% recycled plastic with Bristol-based business, Rideguard. Tyrone Probert, the director of Ecotribo was approached by Rideguard to do the illustration and collaborate on the wider project in a variety of capacities. I have been collaborating with Rideguard for over a year on our OceanX…

Making bicycle mudguards for recycled ocean plastics

Part two of Ecotribo Designs that will change the world. As per the previous post I thought it would be a good idea to explore, in more detail, the stories behind some of our favourite designs, with a focus on the eco and environmental design solutions which excite us this year. There were quite a…

I have been on a journey of discovery for quite a while. As a surfer for over 30 years I love the sea, I grew up in South Africa on the beach surfing every day. My daughter is called Oceana and I have always found my happy place anywhere where there was water. Having spent many days doing…

Since the launch of Ecotribo we have been on a mission to make a sustainable design business and have been trying to develop strategies of pollution prevention, eco product development. I have been super busy and working with some exciting brands with this objective in mind.  This year I have been doing a R&D project with…

The future of indigo dying jeans is now foam. Manufacturers are now breaking with the usual wasteful methods of jeans production providing a positive solution to the environment. Wrangler, along with jeans company Lee, was an early investor in a new method of denim dyeing, developed at Texas Tech, that foregoes the yards of dye…

The UK of tomorrow, as well as the rest of the world, can achieve zero-emissions and I can share with you how another country is doing it. The country of Bhutan is not only achieving it but surpassing it. They also have free education for all and free electricity to ensure their citizens don’t burn…

I have been designing and developing materials and prototyping products in the eco-space for some time now. I have created products and in the process of creating products using Ocean plastic waste. It’s obvious to all the need to find solutions to plastic waste to help our environment. In a 2 pronged attack on the…

There have been some exciting developments at the tribes home base in Bristol, United Kingdom. We have been exploring the many material properties of nature and have found some amazing alternative materials that are good for the planet and can help use waste materials that would usually end up in landfill. We are currently exploring…

OCEAN – Each piece of the chair represents a letter of the precious ocean we all share. When we work together we can find solutions. I made this recycled plastic chair “design story” to highlight the impacts that plastic pollution is having on our planet. But fundamentally to also provide a positive narrative, positive solutions and…

Cuba: Gardens of the Queen A beautiful story of how a protected reef became one of the world’s last healthy ecosystems. Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen, (Jardines De La Reina), is called the crown jewel of the Caribbean. One of the few places in the world where you can see what a marine ecosystem was…

[fusion_text]I have been on a journey of discovery for quite a while. As a surfer for over 30 years I love the sea, I grew up in South Africa on the beach surfing every day. My daughter is called Oceana and I have always found my happy place anywhere where there was water. Having spent many days doing…

We were excited to discover this amazing new initiative called “The New Plastics Economy”. The initiative is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with a broad group of leading companies, cities, philanthropists, policymakers, academics, students, NGOs, and citizens. We believe design will save the world from our current plastic problems and this exciting initiative is an…

I would say the ‘Beasley designs of the year’, held at the Design Museum, London, is one of the most important shows of the year. Timeout London says: ‘We never miss this show’ and well, neither do I.  It’s a wonderful snapshot of the state of the world and the amazing solutions humans are capable…

Designing with carefully selected up-cycled or recycled materials is at the forefront of my design ethos. The Ecotribo ‘Fire Cluster’ pendant lamps demonstrate the individual grain qualities of Oakwood and the unique qualities created by the ancient burnt wood technique of Shou-sugi-ban (Yakisugi 焼き杉) .     I’ve always been inspired by artists who dance…

Turning greenhouse gas into gasoline MIT are working on a new catalyst which provides design principles for producing fuels from carbon dioxide emissions. Read more about these exciting developments at: http://news.mit.edu/2016/greenhouse-gas-into-gasoline-1115

Love bees, nature and healthy living? My partner and I have started to move away from Olive Oils using the local British rapeseed oil for a variety of reasons. Here are 9 good reasons to use Rapeseed Oil over any other oil and where to get the best Rapeseed Oil in Britain helping our bees…

We celebrate beautiful design here at Ecotribo. Check out this elegant, functional table made with high quality components and materials. View the video and help support the kickstarter campaign here