While the bike industry promotes healthy lifestyles and eco-friendly transportation, its environmental impacts are not insignificant. From the raw material extraction and the manufacturing processes to distribution and (lack of) end-of-life disposal –the bike industry at large is actively grappling with its carbon footprint.
Luckily, efforts are being made within the bike industry to reduce its environmental impact. Companies are increasingly using recycled materials, adopting more eco-friendly manufacturing processes, and using more sustainable packaging and distribution methods. In the past year, we’ve reported on Schwalbe’s inner tube recycling program, Ergon’s first completely recyclable saddle, Rapha’s new kits made of repurposed fabric scraps and Trek Bicycle Corporation’s nine-year plan to reduce its carbon emissions by 68% – just to name a few initiatives.
