Why Umbrellas? The Environmental Impact of an Everyday Product ☔🌍
Umbrellas have been a part of our daily lives for centuries. They’ve been used for protection against rain and sun, as fashion accessories, and even as status symbols in certain cultures. Today, umbrellas are practical and often inexpensive, but few consider what happens to them when they no longer function.
The answer is both surprising and alarming: Most umbrellas end up as waste—and not just any waste, but plastic- and metal-based waste with a huge environmental impact.
These materials take hundreds of years to decompose, contributing to pollution in landfills and oceans, and further exacerbating the global waste crisis. At Greenstart, we believe that the umbrella of the future should not add to the problem—it should be part of the solution. 🌱♻️
The Hidden Problem with Umbrellas 🌍☔
Every year, over 1 billion umbrellas are discarded globally. This amounts to more than 500,000 tons of waste, enough to cover several football fields to a depth of one meter. Most umbrellas are made from a combination of plastic, metal, and synthetic textiles like nylon or polyester—materials that are extremely difficult to recycle. Instead, they end up in landfills, where they can take hundreds of years to decompose.
The plastic in umbrellas is especially problematic. Even when it breaks down over time, it doesn’t disappear completely. It breaks into smaller pieces known as microplastics, which eventually pollute the soil, water, and air. Microplastics have been found all over the world—in the oceans, in the food we eat, and even in the human body.
The metal components in umbrellas can corrode, contaminating soil and groundwater, while synthetic materials like nylon don’t break down naturally at all. The result is a massive environmental burden that continues long after the umbrella has served its purpose.
At Greenstart, we believe it’s time to rethink the umbrella and create a sustainable alternative—one that doesn’t harm the planet. 🌱♻️
Why Greenstart Chose the Umbrella as Our First Product
At Greenstart, we wanted to tackle an environmental issue often overlooked in sustainability discussions. Umbrellas are essential for many people, yet their environmental impact has received little attention. This inspired us to develop a solution that not only challenges the status quo but also shows that everyday products can be made sustainable.
The Greenstart Umbrella was developed with a simple yet powerful philosophy: To eliminate waste without compromising functionality. By using 100% biodegradable materials, like kraft paper, we create umbrellas that leave no harmful trace on the planet. Once they’re no longer in use, they naturally break down in a matter of months, not centuries.
Our goal is to prove that sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrifice—it’s possible to design products that are both functional and environmentally friendly. 🌱♻️
How Greenstart Umbrella Makes a Difference
1. Biodegradability
Traditional umbrellas can take up to 400 years to decompose. The Greenstart Umbrella naturally breaks down within months. Using kraft paper combined with PHA and natural coatings, our products are designed to disappear without leaving harmful waste behind.
2. Designed for Corporate Use We focus on one durable 7-day model, created for businesses that want to offer employees, customers, and partners a practical and sustainable alternative. This model combines functionality, reliability, and low environmental impact, making it ideal for daily use and large-scale distribution.
2. Designed for Corporate Use We focus on one durable 7-day model, created for businesses that want to offer employees, customers, and partners a practical and sustainable alternative. This model combines functionality, reliability, and low environmental impact, making it ideal for daily use and large-scale distribution.
3. Reduced Carbon Footprint
Our production process is optimized to minimize resource consumption and reduce CO₂ emissions. For companies with ESG strategies, choosing Greenstart helps demonstrate measurable progress toward sustainability goals.
A Collective Solution for a Greener Future 🌍💚
Umbrellas might not be the first product people think about when considering the environmental impact of everyday items. But that’s exactly why they have huge potential to be catalysts for change. If we can replace umbrellas with sustainable alternatives, what more can we achieve?
The Greenstart Umbrella proves that it is possible to combine functionality with sustainability, and we hope that our work inspires both consumers and companies to make greener choices.
Every umbrella you choose from Greenstart helps reduce plastic waste and contributes to creating a more sustainable future. 🌱💚
Join the Journey 🌍☔
Umbrellas protect us from the rain, but it’s time we also protect the planet. With Greenstart Umbrella, we’re taking the first step toward a greener future. Together, we can make a difference—one umbrella at a time. 🌱💚
Fremtiden for Greenstart
Vår reise er bare i startfasen. Med støtte fra Kickstarter håper vi å produsere Greenstart Umbrella i stor skala og gjøre den tilgjengelig for alle. Vi drømmer om en fremtid der paraplyer ikke bare beskytter mot regnet, men også bidrar til å beskytte planeten.
Greenstart Umbrella er ikke bare et produkt – det er en bevegelse. Bli med oss i kampen for en grønnere fremtid. Sammen kan vi gjøre hverdagsprodukter til en del av løsningen, ikke problemet.
Yours truly,
Patrick Noah Vagn
CEO, Greenstart
