Inflate-a-Ball
The shell/container of the Inflate-A-Ball is partly injection-moulded and partly film laminated fibre cloth; the shaft and canopy are a fibre cloth while the top cap and bottom valve are injection-moulded. All of the colours are from natural pigmentation, inspired by natural food colouring.
The umbrella can be repaired like a bicycle tire, and when it finally has met its doom it can be composted, incinerated becoming energy or recycled into a new product.
The Inflate-a-ball is not only an umbrella but also a Life pod. The umbrella carries an embedded seed as a reminder of its origin and it's future.
You have the seed of life in your hands.
What do you do when the rain starts pouring down, we recommend Inflate-a-ball!
An inflatable umbrella does not brake so easily, it may sway as much as and ordinary umbrella but because there is no metal construction there is nothing there to brake.
An ordinary umbrella can consist of a hundred parts or more and three to four different materials making it difficult to recycle. An inflatable umbrella can be made entirely out off one material, which makes it easier for the consumer to recycle.
Inflate-A-ball is much like a beach ball it has parts but they are all moulded into one and made entirely out of one environmentally safe material. The material chosen for this product is a bio plastic called PLA which is made out off starch from sugar beet, wheat, corn or potatoes. The bio-plastic is made into granulate which can later be used in manufacturing products by film blowing, injection moulding or deep drawing. The same machines that are used for PET plastics can be used for bio plastics.
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