We’ve teamed up with Black + Blum to bring you their best in innovative kitchenware. One of these products is the Eau Good Filter Water Bottle that comes with a traditional Japanese Binchotan charcoal to make tap water taste great. But how does it work? Isn’t putting charcoal in your water to clean it counter-intuitive? Here’s the science behind the Black + Blum Charcoal Water Filter:

Why Use Charcoal?
Binchotan is an active carbon made from tree branches and is renowned for its ability to soften water, add good minerals and absorb unwanted tastes and odours, such as chlorine. This type of charcoal has been used for many years in Japan as a water filter to ensure impurities are removed easily. Impurities are removed by the process of adsorption, which is different to absorption. Adsorption works by binding chemicals and impurities to the charcoal resulting in cleaner water without stripping the water of its natural minerals and salts. Because the Binchotan charcoal surface is incredibly porous, with just 1 gram of charcoal having in excess of 500 meters square of surface area it attracts and holds contaminants extremely well until the charcoal is cleaned for reuse.

Where Does Binchotan Come From?
Black + Blum makes their Binchotan charcoal sticks by placing sustainably sourced wood in a kiln and charring it at a low temperature and then at a high temperature in the second stage of charring. The charcoal is then removed from the kiln and covered with a powder made from earth, sand and ash, leaving it with a smooth, hard surface.

How Do I Use A Binchotan Charcoal Stick?
The stick is ready to use when you buy it as it comes ultrasonically cleaned and vacuum pack.
Simply fill your Eau Good water bottle with drinking tap water and wait for the charcoal to filter impurities from the water. Leaving the water overnight is the best way, but you will be able to taste the difference in the water after just one hour of filtering. Over time, you may notice that the filter’s effectiveness has decreased. You can simply recharge the filter by boiling in water for ten minutes to wash out impurities. There is no need to use any soap or detergent to clean your charcoal, a simple boil will do the trick. If your charcoal breaks, it works in the same way and you can still use it in your water bottle. It is best to use 1 stick for up to 1.1 litres of water for the most effective filtering. It is also best to only use the stick with water, as it will not work if you place it directly in teas, cordials or other drinks.

What Do I Do With My Charcoal Stick Once It Has Reached Maximum Use?
Binchotan charcoal has many secondary uses once you have finished using it as a filter.

• You can break it up and add it to your house or garden plants to add nutrients to soil
• You can use it as a deodoriser. Place charcoal pieces in smelly shoes, near your cat litter, in the laundry basket or in the bathroom to help remove unwanted odors.
• You can use it as a moisture absorbent in the closet

What Happens If You Ingest Charcoal?
If you notice small bits of charcoal floating around in your water, there is no need to fret. Charcoal is not dangerous to human health and is often prescribed as a medicine for various ailments, so there is no harm in accidentally ingesting small bits of Binchotan charcoal from your Black + Blum bottle.

Shop the Black + Blum Charcoal range via the Ecology store or explore the entire Black + Blum range to discover more!