Staying Dry to Saving Oceans: Reimagining Everyday Products for the Planet with Deirdre Bird, Dri Umbrellas

From Ocean Plastic to Purpose: How Deirdre Bird Turned a Broken Umbrella Into a Climate Solution

When Deirdre Bird watched a documentary about ocean plastic pollution, she did not plan to start a company. She did not have a background in environmental science or product manufacturing. What she did have was a deep sense that something was wrong, and an inability to unsee it.

That moment became the beginning of Dri Umbrellas, a business transforming ocean-bound plastic into durable, beautifully designed umbrellas while creating fair-wage jobs and addressing one of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.

On this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, Deirdre shares how curiosity turned into conviction, and how one everyday product became her vehicle for change.

A Documentary That Changed Everything

Deirdre did not grow up studying climate science. At the time, she was working in fitness technology, far removed from supply chains or plastic waste. But one documentary about ocean pollution sent her down a path she could not turn away from.

“I watched one pretty disturbing documentary,” she shared. “It really stuck with me. It led me down this rabbit hole that brought me to where I am today, making umbrellas from recycled ocean plastic.”

What surprised Deirdre most was learning that plastic itself is not always the villain. “A lot of plastic is essential for human health and safety,” she explained. “The real problem is single-use plastic, bottles, utensils, items designed to be thrown away.”

As she learned more about how that waste ends up in oceans and harms marine life, she realized she needed to act, even if she did not yet know how.

An Entrepreneurial Spirit Rooted in Upcycling

While Deirdre did not come from a traditional business background, entrepreneurship was not foreign to her. Her parents both worked full-time jobs while also flipping houses on the side, long before home renovation shows were mainstream.

“They taught me the value of hard work,” Deirdre said. “They were always improving something that already existed and making it more usable.”

That lesson became central to her approach. Instead of creating something new for the sake of it, Deirdre focused on improving what already filled landfills. Umbrellas, she noticed, were everywhere, poorly made, and rarely remembered.

“When umbrellas break, they usually can’t be reused,” she explained. “They just end up in the trash.”

At the same time, she could not name a major brand that dominated the umbrella space. That combination of waste, opportunity, and absence of innovation opened the door.

Building a Supply Chain Backwards

Rather than starting with manufacturers, Deirdre began with a single question. How do you get authentic ocean-bound plastic?

“I wanted the material to be real and to actually have an impact,” she said. “That was always the most important part of the business.”

Through extensive research and conversations with scientists, artists, and plastic pollution experts, she learned that plastic already floating in the deep ocean is too degraded to recycle. The real opportunity lies in intercepting plastic before it reaches the open sea, collecting it from coastlines, rivers, and early ocean beds.

From there, Deirdre worked backward. She partnered with an ocean plastic certification organization, identified approved fabric mills, and then connected with umbrella manufacturers who could work with certified materials.

“I kind of worked my way backward into the supply chain,” she said. “Instead of forcing a manufacturer to adapt, I made sure everything was aligned from the start.”

Designing for Longevity, Not Disposal

Sustainability, for Deirdre, meant more than recycled materials. It meant creating a product that would not need to be replaced.

“No product is really sustainable if you have to keep buying it over and over again,” she said.

Dri umbrellas are built with stainless steel poles for strength, bamboo handles for renewable sourcing, and ocean-inspired colors designed to feel elevated and timeless. Bamboo, she explained, was a deliberate choice.

“It’s the fastest regenerative growing land plant,” she said. “It grows back incredibly quickly, and I love the way it looks. It really elevates the product.”

Each umbrella also comes with a lifetime guarantee, reinforcing the idea that durability is part of environmental responsibility.

Impact Beyond the Product

As Dri grew, Deirdre discovered that addressing ocean plastic also meant addressing economic inequality. Much of the plastic collected comes from Southeast Asia, where waste management supports entire communities.

“This creates fair-wage jobs, especially for women with fewer educational opportunities,” she explained. “That has become one of the parts of the business I’m most proud of.”

Her advocacy extends beyond manufacturing. Deirdre is an ambassador for the 5 Gyres Institute, which studies ocean plastic and microfibers, and a member of the Citizens Climate Lobby, where she has traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for climate legislation.

“What started as a plastic problem opened the door to understanding climate change on a much larger scale,” she said.

Proof That Purpose Can Scale

From a successful Kickstarter campaign to partnerships with REI and a co-branding project with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Dri Umbrellas is proving that mission-driven businesses can grow without compromising values.

“I think storytelling is everything,” Deirdre shared. “When you lead with the why, especially with conscious consumers, the interest follows.”

For Deirdre, the goal has never been to sell more umbrellas for the sake of it. It has been to show that thoughtful design, ethical sourcing, and environmental responsibility can coexist in everyday products.

A Better Way Forward

Deirdre Bird’s journey is a reminder that impact does not always start with expertise. Sometimes it starts with paying attention, asking better questions, and refusing to accept disposable solutions as inevitable.

Her work invites consumers to rethink what sustainability really means, not perfection, but intention, longevity, and care.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Wild Party Podcast to hear Deirdre’s story in her own words.
🌍 Visit and shop at dri.earth to learn more about Dri Umbrellas and support ocean-bound plastic solutions.