Rethinking the Umbrella

Every year, 33 million umbrellas are sold in the U.S. while a good portion of those that flipped inside out the year before flutter around the country's landfills. Umbrella skeletons and their tattered skins may become a thing of the past though, since Treehugger, I.D. Magazine and the Sustainable Style Foundation teamed to sponsor the Umbrella Inside Out Competition.

Entrants to the competition can solve the umbrella problem one of two ways, either by creating a "Cradle to Cradle" umbrella; or by using old umbrellas to make a woman's couture garment.

I'm looking forward to seeing the finalists but can't imagine a better use for an old umbrella than "Paracucina," by Marc Ayats. It takes about a half hour to make, once you've got the parts--an umbrella, aluminum foil, scissors and few other items--and, it can cook your dinner. Paracucina is a solar cooker, and the best use for an old umbrella I've seen yet.