Every year around 13 million tons of plastic are poured into the seas.According to the UN, this is equivalent to emptying the content of a garbage truck in the ocean every minute.All this without forgetting the amount of plastic and garbage that we can also find on the mainland.To help fight this situation, which is generating irreparable damage in the ecosystem, Iñigo Sánchez Lobo and Mónica Calvo-Fernández have recently opened Eko Irun, a store located in the Arbes neighborhood (in 5zuri Street) inwhich sells and bulk cleaning detergents, as well as cosmetics and natural hygiene products and other utensils that constitute an alternative to plastic.
- It seems that lately the world of organic and natural products is booming, but you have known it for a long time?
-Yes.At home we have started looking for alternatives so as not to generate so much plastic residue.We were informed of each product, to know what benefits, in addition to not generating waste.So we were gradually getting into this world.The idea of creating something of ours began to emerge, where we could offer the people around us the possibility of obtaining those products that we consider necessary to take the path that helps us to leave our environment a little more decent;that those who come behind are not all legs up.
Reuse and reduce "the reality is that most plastics cannot be recycled, only a small percentage" not tested in animals "all our products are vegan and natural, without harmful ingredients"
–And at what time did you decide to take the step?
- (Iñigo): One week before confinement, the company for which he worked did not renew the contract to several workers.By then I had already been forming, looking for companies that had products like the ones we used, studying what each one offered...So when they confined us, as I had a lot of time, I continued on that path.
–What you gave with 4ECO.
- It was a brand that we already used at home and we liked it.So finally, in March or April of this year, we met them to explain how it worked, the characteristics of all their products, etc..
–And he convinced you.
-Yes, ya sabíamos que 4Eco ofrecía buenos resultados, así que solo nos faltaba el local.
- Did you look directly in the Arbes neighborhood?
-Yes, porque es donde nosotros nos movemos, Arbes, Larreaundi, Palmera Montero...We live here next to each other, girls also go to school here...It is a very nice neighborhood, with a lot of people's movement.
–What do you offer exactly in Eko Irun?
- On the one hand, cosmetics and hygiene products such as solid shampoos, soaps, conditioners...Also fabric bags, bottles and stainless steel straws, cleaning utensils, etc..And finally, all kinds of home cleaning products and for clothes, in this case in bulk.
- So whoever wants to buy detergent, friegases or friegaplatos, for example, must bring your own bottle or container.
-Yes.Knowing that a container can take 400 years to decompose, it is obviously much better to always have the same containers and fill them.Here we have boats that can buy, with the idea that they are reused, of course, but we want to encourage them to bring their own house boats.
–Because, more important than recycling is to reuse and, thus, reduce.
-That's it.People think that recycling is enough.But the reality is that most plastics cannot be recycled, just a very small percentage.And you see the data, those plastic islands in the oceans because of all the tons of residue that end in the seas, and you consider that something we are not doing well.That is why this is the way to put our grain of sand and make people see that, if each one puts on their part, we can reduce that data.
- In addition to natural, all your products are vegan.
-Yes, ninguno está testado en animales.They are also natural and have no harmful ingredients for the body or the environment, and they are so concentrated that a very small amount spreads a lot.In addition, they are biodegradable between 90 and 98%, so what is going through the drain barely pollutes.
- In these three months of life of Eko Irun, how have they welcomed you?
-Very well.The elderly tell us that it was time to return to before, to buy in bulk, just like they went down to buy lentils or milk in the helmets, for example.We have had very good acceptance.In addition, bulk buying offers the option to buy less and thus be able to try the product.And that is something that people like.
- Home shipping is an alternative you offer, right?
–Ober everything for older people or who cannot load weight, and for people who for work reasons do not come good for the schedule.They can make us the order and take it home.It is a free service and we distribute it by bike.
- In that case, do you put the boats?
- Here we have empty boats that we have been collecting and that we use in these cases.And when we go to the houses, if they have other empty boats, they give them to us.
