All of the elements of this Sustainable Umbrella can easily and fully re-enter a technical or biological system, with three of the four materials able to make new umbrellas. The cork handle is made from recycled cork (recycled wine stoppers cannot be used again for wine but can be used to make other things) or cork from young cork trees (not mature enough to make wine stoppers). All of the wood used would all be from FSC certified sustainable sources, and after its use as an umbrella could be used for a variety of products or could simply decompose naturally. The fabric canopy is made from recycled polyester, which would be collected and recycled using the ECOCIRCLEâ„¢ recycling system from Teijin, currently used by Patagonia. The springs/locks would be made from aluminum because of its recyclability and the infrastructure in place for it.

This Sustainable Umbrella is also easy to assemble and disassemble without damage to any of its parts and contains no permanent attachments. All pegs can be accessed from both ends and therefore pounded out, even the pegs holding the fabric in place. Besides making for easy and neat separation of the elements for recycling, this allows the umbrella to be repaired easily. Only the broken piece needs to be replaced, all other elements may remain (which can lead to longer lasting umbrellas). This also means that parts from old umbrellas can be used in new ones if they are in good condition, eliminating the processing of that element (especially the aluminum).

The aesthetic of this umbrella are a little different than most full size umbrellas in that it does not taper when closed. This differentiates it and adds a bit of style, which is necessary considering its place in the non-collapsing category. The umbrellas it is competing with are not the extreme lightweight compact umbrellas, but rather the larger ones making a more classy statement. The canopy is made of six panels sewn together, which can be made of any pattern or color.

Overall this Sustainable Umbrella excels due to 100% of its elements coming from sustainable sources and continuing to feed into sustainable systems, as well as its ease of repair and disassembly. It is also poised to compete as simply a fashionable umbrella.

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