The raingo shared umbrella project offers umbrella rental services in transportation scenarios, and utilizes modularization and durable design to extend product service life as much as possible.
According to statistics, the Taipei MRT system produces more than 60,000 lost umbrellas a year. The raingo shared umbrella project proposes a solution for use in transportation scenarios, effectively reducing the problems of manufacturing, repeated purchase and disposal of cheap plastic umbrellas from the source while providing commuters with the "right to use" umbrellas.
Smart Umbrella Station with IoT Management System
raingo has developed the world's thinnest 7-centimeter IoT smart umbrella station, which is not only space-saving but can also be adapted to suit different scenarios. The smart umbrella station features a low power consumption design and the free-standing battery power supply system ensures smooth use in different environments. In addition, each umbrella is equipped with an independent ID and RFID chip, and the umbrella number is bound to the user’s mobile phone, making rental and return even more convenient.
Modular and Durable Design Extends Product Service Life
raingo's umbrellas are designed with a product lifecycle of more than five years. The modular design eliminates the need to discard the entire umbrella when a certain part is damaged. In particular, the most easily damaged parts of the umbrella--its ribs and shaft, are made with lotus ribs and carbon fiber materials to reduce the damage rate.
Benefits
- Since the launch of the shared umbrella service on August 28, 2023, raingo has accumulated more than 70,000 app members [1], and the cumulative number of rentals has reached 50,000, achieving a return rate of nearly 100% and a wear and tear of less than 0.5%.
- According to the carbon footprint certification data of major domestic umbrella manufacturers, by replacing purchases with rentals, raingo has reduced carbon emissions by more than 400,000 kilograms [2].
[1] The statistical period covers from August 28, 2023 to August 2024.
[2] According to Raingo's estimate, with the carbon footprint of producing one umbrella being 10 kilograms (based on data from a domestic umbrella manufacturer's carbon footprint certification), transitioning from purchasing to renting umbrellas could replace single-use purchases and potentially reduce carbon emissions by over 800,000 kilograms.