This is part of a new series on Light CO2, where we tell the stories of how companies, organizations, and people tackle climate change. Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone can change climate change. If you’d like to share a story of sustainability and the challenges that were overcome, reach out to us!

Umbrella Stats

• Over 1.1 billion umbrellas are thrown into landfills or our environment every year.

• The number of umbrellas carelessly discarded every year consists of enough material to build 25 Eiffel Towers.

• Today's umbrellas are non-recyclable and non-biodegradable. From the moment they're created, they will exist on our planet for thousands of years.

Dri’s Story

A few years ago, I watched this horrifying documentary on ocean plastic. I couldn't stop thinking about the 17 billion pounds of plastic that flood into our seas every year. It motivated me to learn as much as possible about recycling and upcycling, and I found that brands like Adidas and Nike are taking small steps in the right direction. They're gathering ocean-bound plastic bottles, turning them into polyester yarn, then sewing that recycled polyester yarn into some of their products. I was walking to work in a rainstorm a few weeks after learning that, and my umbrella flipped inside out and snapped. I threw it into the nearest trash can (because what else can you do with a broken umbrella?) and kept walking. Then I had that very cliche entrepreneurial "A-ha!" moment. I went back to the trash can and checked the tag. The canopy was made from 100% recycled polyester. I stood there in the rain, and asked myself, "Why not recycled polyester?" With that, Dri was born.

Brand Sustainability

Brands should absolutely put sustainability at their core. I would say large corporations have an obligation to do so. While we all have a significant role to play in the fight against climate change, putting pressure on individuals instead of enormous corporations who are doing the vast majority of the damage isn't fair. They need to be held responsible for their actions, and if it isn't through rebuilding their supply chain, it should be through offsetting their footprint at the very least. If the business is a start-up, a founder can make sustainability a core part of their business from the very beginning. As the founder creates their supply chain, understanding the environmental footprint of each step is so important. Asking themselves if there is a more sustainable or eco-friendly way to purchase the parts they need or the services they hire will protect them when consumers inevitably ask what their company is doing to protect the environment.

Overcoming Adversity

The fact that I'm a first-time entrepreneur has been quite a challenge. Vetting suppliers, touring manufacturing facilities, selecting materials, designing the product - it's all new to me! It's been a lot of research, deciding definitively what's important, then just going with my gut. Although it's certainly overwhelming at times, I've learned that an incredible amount of people are willing to bend over backward for you - all you have to do is ask. Fortunately, I've always been an extrovert, so I feel comfortable reaching out to people I don't know. The worst they can say is no! I foresee many more hurdles coming my way, but I'm a driven person with a clear mission. I'll handle all hurdles one day at a time.

Hey there! Below you can find the sources we used to research bees and how they are affected by climate change. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding these sources.

Our Sources

"Dri | Ocean Friendly Umbrellas." Current Page: Home Shop! Open Menu Close Menu Open Menu Close Menu Current Page: Home Shop!, 23 May 2041, https://dri.earth.

"Journey of the Umbrella: From Trash to Fashion | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News." WNYC, https://www.wnyc.org/story/96139-umbrella-treasures-trash-cans-runways/. Accessed 23 May 2021.

Nagel, Gabriel. "Plastic Pollution | Light CO2." Light CO2, 20 Oct. 2020, https://www.lightco2.org/articles/plastic-pollution.

Peter HolleyMarch 30, 2018. "The Physics behind This Odd-Looking, ‘Stormproof Umbrella’ from the Netherlands." The Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2018/03/30/how-a-dutch-designer-unlocked-the-secret-of-a-storm-proof-umbrella/.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-12/documents/plastics-aquatic-life-report.pdf. Accessed 23 May 2021.