The
Problem
1.
1 billion umbrellas are broken, lost, discarded each year (worldwide)
2.
The nylon canopies may take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.
3.
Umbrellas are not designed to last with an average lifespan of 6 months.
4.
The metal, if you assume a mass of 240 grams per umbrella, would total 240,000 tons of metal waste per year. That’s the equivalent amount of metal to build four Sydney Harbour Bridge’s.
5.
Umbrellas are made from plastics, metals and nylon. They are difficult to dissemble into their constituent materials and therefore rarely recycled.