Green Options » umbrella

Classic Umbrella Returns With Green Make Over

John Simonetta — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:05:14 +0000

This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.

The new nonwoven material umbrella with all bamboo shaft from Debco looks and acts like any other umbrella out there. But this one is eco-friendly.

Ok, perhaps with the all bamboo construction on this model the umbrella looks a little better than your average promotional item umbrella, but the point is that this unit is another example of the new green promotional items coming to market that act green without necessarily looking green.

The 48” arc of nonwoven material is number #5 recyclable - the same material as used in grocery totes. Thanks to that fact the umbrella is available in all the colors of your common shopping tote as well, so black, lime green, royal blue, red and white are all available. The nonwoven used is 50 gram polypropylene with 30 GSM water resistant lamination.

The patent pending design features a 100% natural bamboo shaft with curved handle. Fiberglass ribs have been added for strength and durability - not very eco there - and the umbrella has a basic Velcro tie closure. EQP pricing on this large umbrella is $15.43 with one color imprint.

Of course for the Ecopreneurists looking to use an umbrella in their marketing campaign all the old standbys work for an eco umbrella as well. Slogans like “we have you covered”, “bringing you in from the rain”, etc. And they of course work everywhere traditional umbrellas do so they are a great idea for Ecopreneurists targeting things like golf events, restaurants and cafes, and hotels.

For more information on these items and the other great stuff from Debco email Andrew Green. If you are looking to order, email info@proformagreen.com or contact your local promotional products seller.

Lightdrops Umbrella is Powered by Rain

Ariel Schwartz — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:34:35 +0000

Anyone who has been caught in a torrential downpour knows that rain can be pretty powerful stuff. That’s why the Lightdrops umbrella prototype is so ingenious. The polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) umbrella features a “collective membrane” that powers its LED lights with energy from the rain.

How to Save Water, Increase Activity, and Be Art at the Same Time: An Upside Down Umbrella?!

Paul Smith — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:41:49 +0000

Looking outside my window, the sky is cloudless, bright, a slight breeze. And it’s December, normally a time of frequent rain. While we here in the Sierra Foothills are not yet facing a water shortage, many people in the world are. And in places that do get sufficient rain, they may be lacking in opportunities to be physically active during the rainy season.

The Watree addresses both of these issues, in a device that some would say looks like an upside down umbrella. While mechanically complex, the idea is simple - Able to be stored in a retracted form, the Watree unfurls to become a large bowl to capture rain, which is then directed to a series of storage tanks underground, ready to be processed as drinking water, or later used to irrigate land.

ReadyMade Readers Renew Broken Umbrellas

Victoria Everman — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:38:46 +0000

When was the last time you cleaned out your attic? How about your basement? Are there still boxes sitting around from when you first moved in years ago?

Under all that dust and clutter, I bet there are some pretty random things lying around your home - you know, in those far reaches that rarely, if ever, see the light of day or the end of a Swiffer.

From VHS tapes and phone books to empty pens and packing peanuts, the readers of ReadyMade Magazine have found new uses for once useless items via the MacGyver Challenge.

In each issue, the editors choose a specific item for readers to find new uses for. The winning project from a previous issue is also featured, along with directions on how to make it yourself. In the current issue (#33), two ladies from Wisconsin won the broken umbrella challenge by making a magazine rack. Runner-up projects are now featured online; this item’s secondary ideas include two dog outfits and a gym-style parachute (now that’s a flashback, huh?).