On the road to a zero-waste bike.
We believe it is our responsibility to leave the planet better than we found it. That’s why we have the goal to develop the first zero-waste bike by 2025. With the shopping frenzy that is Black Friday, the topic of overconsumption and waste cannot be more relevant. But the counter-movement is growing. Driven by the fact that our planet has a limited amount of raw materials, we must consume consciously. We completely agree with this and we want to do our part.
Use More, Buy Less.
Because of our circular business model, we design products to be used; not consumed. By maintaining the responsibility over the products, we ensure that materials are brought back and we work to prevent these from ending up in landfill. Not only that, but this oversight also gives us tons of data that we use to improve our products. In fact, these continuous improvements have resulted in our bikes breaking down 66% less than they used to. We design durable bikes that break down less, use less raw materials and produce less waste. Our members therefore automatically contribute to less landfill waste by simply hopping on their bikes each day.
Designing with the future in mind.
Our latest e-bike can now be recycled 40% more than our first model. How? We’ve made significant improvements by incorporating more mono-material parts, making it simpler to repair, separate and recycle. Together, these enhancements mean we have created an even more recyclable, future-proof product.
Waste: the uncomfortable truth.
Nevertheless, we still generate non-recyclable waste and don’t want to shy away from this. This is down to two problems: non-separable parts and non-recyclable materials. In theory, the solutions are simple. For the non-recyclable bits we either 1) ban it or 2) we find a partner that can repurpose the material. For the non-separable parts, we can redesign them so they are mono-material or easy to separate. An example of a part we have completely changed is the bell.
Our old bell was not repairable, easily separable and the plastic used is not recyclable. Our latest bell is fully repairable, which is great news for sustainability. Our initial tests show a remarkable 80% decrease of complete replacements, a significant reduction in the waste. Unfortunately, when the bell is eventually broken beyond repair, only 51% of it can be recycled, so we now need to replace this plastic or establish a recycling system for it.
We must apply this thought process to all our bike components, and mind you, we have over 100 different parts, so this is not an easy feat. Fear not, we are diligently working towards our goal, and by the year 2025, a bike shall emerge: completely waste-free.
The No Waste Chair.
In light of this waste problem, we partnered up with Dutch designer Kees who invented the transparent No Waste Chair. We wanted to create a visual reminder of our goal, and the problems we need to solve. And what better way to showcase this than with the pesky bells.
“I was able to turn the uncomfortable waste problem into a beautiful and appealing design – which is secretly still just a little uncomfortable.” – Kees
“The No Waste Chair makes a statement against waste and puts the story of waste in a new perspective. Literally by taking a seat and talking about it, because dealing more consciously with materials requires behavioural change. It is not only a chair, but also a symbol of its sustainability and an inspiration for a more conscious and circular society.” – Kees.
If we continue to design our products smartly, there will be no such thing as waste, as all materials have value that can be conserved and reused. This chair shows us and our members, where we are in our journey. So watch this space, as we work to create the first zero-waste bike.