It’s now the middle of August. Soon, the sun will spend less time in our skies and clouds will come, full of water, to feed and replenish our environment.
It also means that it’s getting to the time when us humans have the pleasure of muddying around in wet socks, shivering from the rain falling down our backs and hiding under canopies until the rain passes.
Unless of course, you’re clever enough to have your umbrella tucked away somewhere!
But how eco-friendly is your umbrella? Have you ever even thought about it?
No?
Me neither. Until now, that is.
The Facts About Umbrella Waste
Umbrellas are fickle creatures.
And by that I mean that they break easily.
This causes over 150,000 tons of wasted metal each year (enough to build 25 Eiffel Towers).
Oh, and let’s not forget that the polyesters used for canopies can take up to 1,000 years to degrade.
I know. Who knew
But don’t let it get you down. Instead, plan ahead and get your hands on one of these 4 eco-friendly umbrellas!
1. Brelli
Not for the faint hearted (or those of us who are on a budget) is the leading luxury eco-friendly umbrella, The Brelli.
Umbrella’s from Brelli are handcrafted from all eco-friendly and bio-degrable materials. The canopy (which is available in plenty of colours and designs) are supported by bamboo struts.
The company claims that a discarded Brelli (for when they inevitably break apart) will biodegrade in less than five years.
2. Monsoon Vermont Umbrella
The Monsoon Vermont comes in in each and every colour, and they’re made one of a kind just for you! (Just tell them your favourite colour). These “trashion” umbrellas are sewn in a collage-style pattern from non-recyclable plastic trash that has been gathered from Jakara’s streets, landfills and waterways, with the edges lined with silk fabric. The handles and tips are made from Indonesian wood, and 32-inch full-length umbrella ($60) sustains jobs for impoverished Indonesians.
They’re truly a work of art.
Plus, they’ve got a 25% sale on right now!
3. ShedRain Ecoverse Automatic Open And Close Compact Umbrella
ShedRain Ecoverse umbrellas are made of 100% recycled fabric canopy from PET soda bottles with a bamboo handle. It’s a pretty standard umbrella, however, unlike the other two already named: This one has an automatic open and close function! If you’re from anywhere as rainy as I am, you’ll know how useful those buttons can be in a downpour. It’s also one of the bigger umbrellas with a 45 inch arc.
It compacts nice and small too, so you can pop it into your bag and be ready for the rain.
4. Ginkgo Umbrella
Ginkgo Umbrella started an Indiegogo campaign last year in an effort to get the prototype off the ground – and yes, they made it way past their goal of $30,000 and the umbrella is now on the market.
“Ginkgo is an innovative compact umbrella, redesigned from scratch and made entirely in just one recyclable material. It is stiff and flexible, able to absorb random impacts and windforce without breaking or bending, but also lightweight, colorful and warm to the touch. And 100% recyclable.”
The key to the umbrella is that it’s not assembled, but instead made into a single piece of flexible plastic from a plastic injection moulding.
And you know how umbrellas are pushed inside out with the wind? Then they break and you’ve to throw them away? Yeah well, the Ginkgo can stretch all you want and it won’t break because the unique patented geometry of the umbrella also allows it to bend or invert in all kind of weird ways.
Seriously, this is an investment piece.
Oh! And it comes in lots of different colours! (Even the handle and the rods can be colourized!)
Which of these eco-friendly umbrellas will you be opting to stay dry with when the rainy season comes around?
