briiv in, breathe out. That’s this innovative device’s slogan, and as an eco-friendly air filter, it fits perfectly. Despite its petite size, the briiv boasts mighty air filtering abilities – the equivalent of 3,043 house plants to be exact! I couldn’t wait to try one in my home, and after a few weeks of use, here are my thoughts…
What Are The Benefits Of An Air Filter?
Air filters are a brilliant item to have around the home: they help keep the air free from unwanted smells, pollutants, allergens, and more. As someone who is particularly sensitive to indoor air quality, having the opportunity to try a briiv air filter in my home was something I jumped at.
Currently I have to take daily antihistamines due to air-borne allergens, and in one previous flat, the trapped exhaust fumes in my home caused me to develop asthma. So, could the briiv help me to breathe more clearly?
What Makes The briiv Eco-Friendly?
There are plenty of air filters on the market, but the briiv is the first I have come across that harnesses the power of plants. Using 90% natural materials, the briiv combines moss, coconut coir, and four matrix filters to purify the air. The device makes the most of this plant-powered design too, showcasing the coconut and moss elements in a sleek glass bowl above the main body of the device. It looks like a hi-tech terrarium, and in a way, it is!
The team at briiv have prioritised the planet at every step, too. The plastic elements of the device are made from bio-plastic derived from elephant grass, reducing demand for oil-based plastic. It also uses glass, hemp, cork, silk, and a small number of electrical components (that make up that final 10%).
Alongside it’s nature-centric design, the briiv is a low-energy air filter that is estimated to cost just £2 to run per year. That means increased energy-efficiency in your home, even if you’re already using a renewable energy provider!
My Favourite Features Of The briiv Air Filter
From the get-go, I’ve been excited to try the briiv because it combines nature and innovative design (so much so that it won the Red Dot Design Award 2021!) Upon getting my hands on it, here are my favourite features…
Easy set-up. I received my air filter direct to my home, and it came in a simple cardboard box with a little instruction card. It took less than 10 minutes to get set up, placing the coconut and moss into the device before powering on!
Hands-free controls. The briiv has simple hands-free controls displayed behind a thin mesh on the main body of the device. To wake it up, it just takes a wave of a hand, and then pointing to the ‘1’ for 1-hour of use, and then the + and – symbols to set the power.
Syncing with my phone. briiv has a simple, easy-to-use app that connects to my home’s Wi-Fi, as well as other smart devices! I’ll be honest and admit that I don’t use this feature much, but I like that it’s a possibility.
Plant power. I’m a bit of a plant mama in my home, and one of the reasons I love them so much is for their air-purifying qualities. My briiv does my regular houseplants’ job 3000x better, while still looking as just as lovely!
Carbon-neutral design. briiv is a start-up, and recognises that it still makes a (small) impact in creating their air filters. They offset their logistics, production, and the lifetime energy use of each briiv through CarbonFund.org.
How Well Does briiv Work?
Ok, you may now be sold on the design and elements of the briiv. But what about its actual performance? I had to try it for myself to find out.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been running the briiv air filter in my home from 1 to 6 hours per day. On Day 1, I immediately discovered that the device is incredibly efficient at removing cooking smells from the air. I live in a small flat, and after dinner smells is a pet peeve of mine, so it was nice to see these whisked away by the briiv!
Since then, I’ve found the briiv is good for freshening up a room after sleep, exercise, and even burning candles.
When it comes to finer, less easily detectable pollutants like mould, bacteria, VOCs, and allergens, I can’t say how well the briiv works, but I do trust the science behind the device.
And as for my own personal air sensitivity? Honestly, my briiv has made me question why I didn’t try an air filter in my home sooner! I still take my prescribed medication, but I find myself less sensitive to candles, perfumes, and cooking smells because the briiv reduces these quickly and easily, as well as keeping the air cleaner on a daily basis.
Top Tips For New briiv Users
If you’re thinking of getting a briiv air filter, keep these tips in mind…
Placement is key. It’s worth noting that the briiv has a quiet hum that gets louder the higher the setting. For use during sleep, I didn’t mind this, but I often like to sleep with white noise. You might be different. My top tip is to put the device in a central yet uninhabited part of your space, and letting it run throughout the day.
Keep circularity in mind. Just like traditional air filers, briiv’s filters will need replacing over time. If used 6 hours per day, every day, I’m advised that the filters will need replacing annually. (This is double the duration of a standard air filter!) The design team have considered circularity with this, and the filters can be disposed of in the compost bin (moss, coconut coir) and household bin (matrix filter). Then, you can purchase a new set of filters for just £35.
Stay in touch with the briiv team. briiv’s Founder James Whitfield continues to share creative ways to make the most of the briiv on their socials, so give them a follow on Facebook or Instagram, or go direct to their website to place an order!
