SUMMER GLEN is the brainchild of Cape Town photographer, Tegan Glen. Her swimwear range is designed to allow women to feel comfortable in their own skin while enjoying multiple ways to wear each design. Each piece is manufactured using Repreve fabric, which is created from recycled plastic, with tags that are made from recycled paper. Online orders are couriered in mailer bags made from cornstarch, allowing customers to put their bags in their compost heap immediately. Comfort. Sustainability. Support. You’ll find it all in SUMMER GLEN.ax

Certified by the “Global Recycled Standard” label, each multi-purpose towel you’ll find in the range by French brand, Pantaï Studio is made from recycled plastic bottles. The material is light, absorbent and compact - perfect for balmy beach days and poolside sessions. The microfibre material is also anti-bacterial, so it prevents bad smells and dries very quickly, which allows you to wash your towel less often in order to reduce your washes and save water. Now that’s water smart.

Lovers of all things Scandi will adore the Tretorn collection of sneakers - a range designed for Scandinavian weather and crafted with the magic of Swedish innovation. Sustainability is at the centre of everything that the brand creates and represents. For the founders of Tretorn, this philosophy manifests in a minimal waste production process that uses creative methods to save the natural resources used during the manufacturing process and to see high-quality waste as an opportunity to reimagine fashion. Tretorn is on a mission to reinvent iconic sneakers from the 60's, but with a cleaner footprint in the the spirit of its Eco Essentials Initiative. In 2017, Tretorn was selected and highlighted at the UN’s World Ocean Conference as a benchmark company that is working towards climate goals. 

A_C Official was founded to disrupt the fashion industry and offer a sustainable and cruelty-free alternative to the leather and PU accessories. For every A_C product sold, the brand plants one mangrove in partnership with SeaTrees. By donating to the SeaTrees cause, A-C Official has been able to support the growth of mangrove forests, which are estimated to sequester 5-10 times more CO2 out of the atmosphere per hectare than tropical rainforests. They are also 1000x more cost-efficient at protecting coastlines than seawalls. Much of that carbon is stored in the soil and sediment that make up a mangrove ecosystem. SeaTrees works with local planting partner Eden Projects to plant mangroves in West Papua, Indonesia, and protect one of the largest tracts of mangrove forest in the Gulf of Thailand with Wildlife Alliance.

Staying hydrated has just become sustainable thanks to LOCH - a brand that was established as a sustainable solution to improving your health and looking after the planet. Founder, Sahar Davodi has always felt a deep affinity with water. When she moved to Dubai, she set out to build brands that would help people drink and save more water. She is a serial entrepreneur in the water-saving product space, helping to add value to businesses and the environment. In helping to reduce the number of plastic bottles that are consumed globally every day, Davodi created LOCH - a collection of water bottles that come in a range of vibrant colours and sizes. You can customise your bottle with different lid options - a regular lid, a twist top lid for a high flow of water, an eco-warrior stainless steel lid, or a dual temperature lid. LOCH is not just a water bottle. It’s a lifestyle. 

Born in the sunny, dry climate of the UAE, the Sunkiss brand was created to capture the essence of luxury beach living while serving the crucial function of protecting your skin from harsh UV rays. As a brand, SunKiss prioritises people and the planet. All its products are free of oxybenzone and octinoxate. Its manufacturers formulate its mineral-based sunblocks using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and its “non-nano” size particles can’t be ingested by coral. SunKiss does its bit for the environment by offering reef-friendly sunscreen that is not harmful to marine life and coral.

Looking for more ways to make a difference? Here are 4 super practical ways you can do your bit on World Water Day (and beyond):

1. Reduce food waste
It may surprise you to find out that one of the biggest water-intensive industries is the food production industry. A standard-sized hamburger, for example, uses 53 gallons of water to produce. This includes the water that is used during the manufacturing process, drinking water for livestock and water used during crop irrigation. By reducing your food wastage, you can help save water and money at the same time. This World Water Day, you could consider:

- Creating your own compost heap for food waste
- Eating less meat
- Steaming your vegetables instead of boiling them
- Supporting small-scale farmers
- Dividing your food into portions and freezing them for future use
- Using leftovers as additions to new meals
- Donating to soup kitchens

2. Time your showers with a song
Taking unnecessarily long showers is a big water-waster. But when the hot water is running and the soap suds are sudding, it’s easy to get lost in the moment. One way of making your showers shorter without spoiling the experience with the intrusive sound of an alarm or timer, is to play a song while you shower and make it a rule that when the song ends, so does the shower. You can save over 100 gallons of water a month just by reducing your shower time by a minute or two. And this way, you’ll get your four minutes of bliss and the chance to have a bit of a sing-a-long, plus you’ll be saving water, time and money. It’s a win, win, win.

3. Participate in the Groundwater challenge
The UN has challenged global citizens to celebrate World Water Day by making a one-minute video in which you talk about how groundwater impacts your life. You could provide your opinion on whether the groundwater in your community is safe and adequate. You could also share your tips on how to become more water-wise.
Your video should be one minute max, filmed in landscape orientation, and be truthful and in English (or with English subtitles). When you upload it to social media, don’t forget to use #MyGroundWaterStory and #WorldWaterDay. Remember to also pop us a tag or a mention in your post so we can bring the hype. We’re excited to hear your thoughts.

4. Reuse water
When you live more consciously and make an effort to notice the actions you take instinctively without really giving it much thought, you may be surprised at the things you do that waste water and how much of that water can be recycled.

For example, you could save the water you use when you boil rice or pasta and use it to water your plants. There is an amazing amount of nutrients in water that is used to cook starch.

Have an aquarium? The “dirty” water in a fish tank that you usually throw out when you clean it, is a rich source of vitamins and minerals for plants.

Having a cocktail party? Instead of throwing away any ice that may be left at the bottom of glasses, place those ice cubes and remnants in your planters. These quick fixes could add up to big saves.