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Many of the objects we use daily are made from mixed materials, ones are often difficult to separate. This cost can outweigh the value of the materials, so these objects are very likely to end up in Landfill. Of course, mixing materials offers functional benefits such as combinations of soft & hard structures, and no where else is this more true with Umbrellas. The Recyclable Umbrella is a reappraisal of the potential for plastic, a material which if properly managed offers carbon savings and excellent recyclability when compared with many organic alternatives.

After testing and research, Polypropylene was chosen as the material, with a natural flex, the ability to make non-woven fabric for the canopy, and an ever increasing recycling rate. The construction pushes the material to it's limits with a clip on canopy, snap fit arm pivots, a stay mechanism and heat welded canopy sections.

Being made from a pure material means recycling can happen with far fewer operations, and leaving the polymer undyed makes it much more valuable at the end of life stage. The ribbed sections across the umbrella then serve as a celebration of the material saving potential of plastic whilst also reinforcing the structure's stiffness.