Tired of flimsy umbrellas that don’t really keep you dry? Pelcor’s new cork skin umbrellas are expertly crafted to last.

Most umbrellas are flimsy affairs, with frames made of aluminum and nylon canopies. They’re supposed to be treated with an acrylic coating on the underside and a scotch-guard type finish on the top, but I’ve definitely had umbrellas become soaked and then leak after about 5 minutes in a strong rain.

Pelcor is a Portuguese company looking to upgrade the umbrella’s image, with an eco-friendly twist. Their entire product line is made from cork, a sustainable material that’s found predominantly in Portugal.

The cork oak has an extremely long lifespan and is the only tree in the world whose bark regenerates itself. It takes 20 to 25 years before the first cork can be removed from a cork oak, but after that, it can be harvested every 9 years. Removing the bark without harming the tree is an extremely delicate task, requiring highly-skilled artisans that are usually paid well for their efforts.

In 2003, Sandra Correia, granddaughter of the founder of Pelcor, 30 year-old cork factory, challenged her father to think beyond the champagne stopperss that had been the company’s bread and butter. She wanted to make cork feminine and fashionable. Correia envisioned creating accessories out of cork skin as a way to help sustain the cork industry and bring to market products that are both stylish and practical.

The first product she created was an umbrella, which I recently had the good fortune of being invited to test. The first thing that struck me about this Pelcor cork umbrella was the subtle but delicious scent of dry wood and the extremely smooth texture of its case. It felt light and thin, not at all like the cork boards and wine corks we’re all used to.

“After the tiradia (process of harvesting), the cork is left to dry in the meadow,” explains the Pelcor website. “Raw planks of cork are then boiled, making them more elastic and easier to flatten, after which they are sorted by thickness and quality.”

Once I removed the protective sleeve, it was time to unfurl the umbrella. For me, the action was a little stiff, but I’ve read that cork skin is a lot like leather, becoming smoother and more supple over time. The umbrella popped into place with only a little effort, revealing a lovely cappuccino-colored canopy, just the right size for protecting your head from summer showers.

It might be a little counter-intuitive, but cork is naturally impermeable, buoyant, elastic – even fire resistant. It kept me dry without any of those chemical-based waterproofing agents that grace the canopies of other umbrellas. I especially loved the curved handle, which brings to mind the classic “business man” umbrellas of the early 2oth century.

The Pelcor umbrella is available online, in two versions – tall and compact – at Pelcor’s website.  Prices range from $148 to $165.

Images: Pelcor

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Ginkgo is the world’s first sustainably designed umbrella. Made entirely from one recyclable material, it’s lightweight, durable and comes in a variety of colors to brighten your day.

Most umbrellas out there are poorly made. Just spend one rainy day in a major city and you’ll to see hundreds of broken ones all over the street, and opportunistic vendors setting up shop to sell you equally poorly made replacements — not very sustainable. In fact, the about 1 billion umbrellas that are broken, lost, and improperly disposed of each year could circle the earth 18 times. There’s also enough metal in them to build more than 25 Eiffel Towers each year, and enough polyester (which takes about a century to biodegrade) to cover New York City. This combination of materials make most umbrellas what is often referred to as a “monstrous hybrid” — making it nearly impossible to recycle.

An Italian company called Ginkgo took this as a challenge and has designed an innovative compact umbrella, made entirely from just one completely recyclable material — polypropylene, which is both stiff and flexible. It is better able to absorb impacts and strong winds without breaking or bending, but also lightweight.

The number of components used to make it have been considerably reduced, from the traditional 120 pieces to just 20, assembled with the use of strong snap-fit joints instead of screws and moving parts. The fewer the components, the less chance of breaking. If something would break, that one part can easily be replaced.

Polypropylene was chosen because it’s one of the lightest plastic materials that is also highly flexible and resistant. Because it’s made from a single material, down to the thread used for the seams, it can be tossed in the recycling bin once it’s reached the end of its useful life.

The company has plans to start using zero-impact biodegradable polymers instead of the polypropylene, further enhancing the sustainability credentials of the umbrella. Ginkgo is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo and has raised more than $70,000 — more than twice the initial goal.

The best part is that Ginkgo umbrellas come in a variety of fun colors, which can be fully customizable through a special widget on the company’s site. We could all use a well-needed pop of well-needed pop of color to brighten a rainy day.

Images courtesy of Ginkgo

The post Sustainable, Recyclable & Durable Umbrellas by Ginkgo Will Brighten a Rainy Day appeared first on EcoSalon.

Dear readers: Sara and I stumbled across this and six days later we’re still not sure what to think of it. When you come across a green product as useless as this, it’s easy to be rendered speechless. Fortunately, at least for us, this doesn’t last long. Here, we share our thoughts. Please do share yours.

We present to you the Umbrella Pot by Kyouei Design. It claims to conserve water by reusing the rainwater cast off by your umbrella to nourish the plant growing in a small pot at its base.

Kim: I’ll say it until I’m green in the face. Useless objects manufactured using sustainable materials are still…useless. You can twist and turn it a million eco-friendly ways, but I’ll continue to ask the same question. Why use the resources, waste the energy, create the carbon emissions to create and sell an unnecessary, frivolous product?

Sara: I didn’t realize this was a problem that needed solving but it makes sense if you think about it. Now I’m wondering what else around my place needs help. What if I’m letting stray dust bunnies escape when they could be of service? I think I get them all but there is that space behind the fridge. Perhaps there’s a special implement to help capture these wayward fluffaluffs? Eco-friendly of course.

Kim: The Umbrella Pot is a “low-maintenance way to keep a small plant”, but only if rain is falling and your umbrella is wet. It won’t help you in the least when the weather is dry. Yes, it’s made of eco-friendly and non-toxic ceramic. Spectacular. It also costs almost $800, which is a lot of dollars spent to capture a few drops of water. Has anyone tried putting indoor plants outdoors during a rainstorm and letting them catch the rain all on their very own? Brilliant, no?

Sara: The only challenge I see with an umbrella stand like this is that unless you plan to sport an equally pricey umbrella, you’ll just feel lame. It’s like parking your Porsche on Van Ness and wondering why it keeps getting dinged. (This happens to me all the time. So annoying!) The contents have to fit the container. Which means a Chanel umbrella at least. What’s Gucci doing for spring showers?

Kim: Have we lost all sense in our attempt to go green? Has the ozone layer fried the sector of the brain in charge of discernment? Or maybe we’ve been waterlogged by acid rain?

Sara: You’re so in luck! Could I interest you in a very stylish eco-friendly pot to catch your acid rain?

Kim: Here’s a suggestion. If you can say kitchen pot, you can save rainwater”¦the old fashioned way. Put one of your pots outside with your umbrella draining in it. Already own an umbrella stand? Let your umbrella drain in it, then pick it up and pour the excess water into any of your plants.

Sara: Kim, as an employee we value your contributions. Your idea has been submitted to management and will be reviewed, possibly this year. In the meantime, we recommend purchasing an umbrella stand that is eco friendly, like the Umbrella Pot.

The verdict: Waterlogged. If your current umbrella stand still functions, use it. If your life lacks an umbrella stand, well, TRAGIC is not the first word that comes to mind.

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