On the Run Umbrellas is a product-service system concept that offers an alternative to the traditional linear stream lifecycle of the everyday umbrella. The concept proposes individuals subscribe to a system in which umbrellas are available for use at any time, housed in select locations throughout a city. For a minimal monthly fee, subscribers use a personal RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) key to access umbrellas when needed.

On the Run Umbrellas give subscribers the ability to leave home without the need to carry an umbrella, eliminating the inconvenience of transporting it throughout the day and reducing the phenomenon of impulse purchasing inexpensive, low quality umbrellas.

The OTRU system functions through a series of "honesty pods" that house the umbrellas. The subscriber unlocks the pods with an RFID key, logging all times and locations of pod activity. The subscriber can use the umbrella as long as he likes, even take it home. The convenience of returning the umbrella and remaining hands free throughout the day is incentive to return on a regular basis. When an umbrella is damaged, the subscriber returns it to the pod oriented so that the umbrellas red tip is exposed, serving as a warning to other subscribers while also notifying maintenance personnel.

The umbrellas used by OTRU are one hundred percent polypropylene and therefore fully recyclable. An entire umbrella can be melted down without disassembly, allowing for more efficient material recovery. A damaged umbrella serves as a direct resource for the manufacture of new umbrellas, with no material downcycling.

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