Development of a fully customised, repairable and recyclable polypropylene umbrella that is easy to assemble

Project Information

PEPLUM

Grant agreement ID: 854428

DOI

10.3030/854428

Project closed

EC signature date 28 January 2019

Start date 1 February 2019

End date 31 May 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

PLV SRL
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PEPLUM (Development of a fully customised, repairable and recyclable polypropylene umbrella that is easy to assemble)

Reporting period: 2019-02-01 to 2019-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

An estimated 1.5 billion umbrellas are discarded annually across the world. A first reason is that umbrella repair services no longer exist; as a result, even when only one component breaks down, the entire umbrella is thrown away. Moreover, being composed of different materials that are difficult to separate, their recycling is also complicated and expensive. As a consequence, throwing them out and landfilling becomes the easiest option of disposal. But this means that hundreds of thousands of tons of metal and fabric are unnecessarily wasted, contributing significantly to the pollution of our planet.

Our project PEPLUM proposes an umbrella that, being entirely made of a single polymer, is first of all 100% recyclable. Furthermore, the patented arm (made of a single piece of flexible material with integrated joints), combined with a considerable reduction in the number of parts (from 130 in traditional umbrellas to just 25) and the ease of assembly (thanks to the use of snap-fit joints) allows users to reuse the still working components by replacing the damaged ones only, making it the world’s first "easily repairable” umbrella. This means savings on purchase for end-users while avoiding the dumping of broken umbrellas whose materials often end-up in seas and oceans.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Over the course of FS, we assessed the technical requirements, risks and mitigation measures to take PEPLUM compact, pocket and fixed repairable models to TRL9. We also performed an FTO Analysis, successfully confirming the unique characteristics of PEPLUM. Validation of the commercial feasibility involved analysis of market opportunities, development of a commercial plan and commercial risks and mitigation measures. Finally, we did a projection of future revenues, expecting a positive ROI since year 2 of commercialization.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Through our website and global distributors, PEPLUM offers a trendy, customizable, eco-sustainable, 100% recyclable and fully “easy repairable” umbrella which allows end users to save on the purchase of new umbrellas (on average 2 per season per person), having a much lower impact on the environment and reducing, at the same time, a huge waste of material.

Details of the Product

Reduction of Components & Simplified Assembly

Main Image

Customizable by User

Product Overview

Integrated Joints & Patented Geometry

Repairable by User

All in 1 Material & 100% Recyclable