More than 1 billion umbrellas are produced worldwide each year. The main reason for this is that a large part of the supply of umbrellas are of such poor quality that they break after a very short time - sometimes the first time they’re used.
In terms of mass production, the Dripdrop umbrellas are the most durable and long-lasting you can find. Our umbrellas are made with a so-called 'storm-proof construction' on the inside, making it pretty much impossible for the weather to break it. The umbrellas have also been strengthened in several key places to ensure that even the natural wear and tear from several years of usage won’t damage them. So, does this mean they won’t break? Unfortunately, no. But it does means that we deliver umbrellas that can keep you dry in the absolutely worst types of weather. It means that our products have a longer lifecycle than any comparable umbrellas out there. We’re proud of that.
Our umbrella fabrics are made from recycled plastic, so called rPET polyester, 100% post-consumer plastic. What does that mean? rPET stands for recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or recycled PET. PET is a strong, durable and recyclable material that is used for soda bottles, water bottles and food jars. By using rPET polyester, we essentially keep these products from ending up in landfill and oceans.
Learn more about rPET >
With Dripdrop, umbrellas are transformed from a product we own to a utility we access - when we need it. In the same way that people are increasingly sharing all kinds of other products, such as cars and bikes. What happens when one umbrella can be useful for more than one person? Umbrella production goes down. Instead of producing 1 billion umbrellas of mostly poor quality, we can produce fewer umbrellas of a much higher quality.
You rent one umbrella, we plant one tree. Every umbrella really counts.
Working with the leading non-profit organization Eden Reforestation Project makes sure that things are done right. Eden Reforestation Project has a proven track record with over 360 million trees planted already and they work with big companies like SAP. Importantly, Eden don’t just plant trees but also make sure that the trees are nurtured and that the projects are anchored in the local communities. In their own words they “work in developing countries to reduce extreme poverty and restore healthy forests”.
There are a number of positive aspects of planting trees. Here is what Eden Reforestation Project has to say about it: “The destruction of healthy forest systems causes so many different problems. Trees provide a habitat for animals, purify water sources, control flooding and erosion and help to replenish the soil with nutrients needed for farming. When farmers can’t grow anything their farms fail and they have no option but to move to the overcrowded cities looking for work. Often they have to resort to selling themselves or their families into slavery just to survive.”
The Rent One Plant One Initiative was started in August 2020. We look forward to updating the total number of trees planted in the future.