Have you ever thought about how many cheap, flimsy umbrellas are discarded every time they blow inside out or come adrift just when you need them? How many times have you seen an abandoned umbrella lying in a wet and crumpled heap in the gutter? It’s something that Pamela Zonsius pondered and then she decided to apply her skills to the problem and developed the world’s first biodegradable umbrella.

Named the Brelli, Pamela’s stylish creation was inspired by the simplicity and Zen-like quality of oriental design. The Brelli has a sturdy handle and an intricate frame crafted from sustainably-harvested bamboo—a naturally renewable resource. A clear umbrella hood lets you ‘see’ and ‘be seen’, because who lets a little rain get in the way of showing off that fabulous (fair trade and organic) outfit? Fusing fashion with the latest in technology, the Brelli’s patented design features a certified biodegradable plastic canopy. This material has a unique chemical composition which allows it to completely biodegrade in landfill environments. Unlike conventional plastic, which takes hundreds of years to break down, the Brelli’s bio-plastic canopy is certified to fully biodegrade in one or two years. What’s more, the gases released during the degrading process can be harvested to generate electricity. So more than 90% of the energy used to create the Brelli could thereby be recycled.

For the environmentally conscious fashionista, the world’s first eco-chic umbrella is a must-have. The Brelli is currently only available in a few select shops in the US (see the Brelli website for details), but the good news is that it’ll be available online from January 2008, so shipping policy dependent, we can all have one.

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Keen to help my little feathered friends through the bleak mid-winter, I’ve been doing some research on exactly what I can feed the little fellas. I was surprised to read at the RSPB website that birds are in fact quite partial to a bit of Christmas dinner, what a great idea for getting rid of the leftover. Here’s what to share and what not to share, according to the RSPB:

• Fat. Only from unsalted cuts of meat, i.e. not from a ham. Put it out in a large piece for the little birds to pick at, and be sure to anchor it down to be sure that a large bird doesn’t make off with it. Nail it down if necessary.
• Roast potatoes. Once they’re cool, cut them open for birds to enjoy the fluffy insides.
• Vegetables. Cold brussels sprouts, carrots and parsnips are popular. Don’t put out more than what can be eaten in one day or you may attract rats.
• Fruit. Excess or bruised apples, pears or other fruit. Cut up and leave out.
• Pastry. Cooked or uncooked are both good bird food, especially if made with real fats.
• Cheese. Small pieces of hard cheese, but nothing to strong and no blue cheese.
• Dried fruit. Raisins, sultanas and currants are all good.
• Biscuits and cakes. Stale cake and crumbs from the bottom of the biscuit tin are all full of fat and good for getting birds through the winter.

Salt is a big no-no! Birds can’t digest salt and it will remain in their nervous systems, so please don’t feed birds anything salty.

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We’d like to wish all of our readers a great green festive season, and to say thank you for your support over the past year. We’ll be taking a break tomorrow, but will be back on the 26th December with more of our usual green interest news, green product reviews and commentary on all things sustainable and eco-friendly.

Click on start on the image above for some green festive fun.

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