We’ve seen many attempts to recycle bikes and build new bikes for those in need, but one young inventor is looking to turn bicycle parts and creating durable, well-functioning prosthetic legs. 19-year old Parker Owen of Mobile, Alabama studied the diagram of a bicycle and created a method to create the “Cycle-Leg,” a low-cost prosthetic that could be used by those who couldn’t afford more expensive prosthetics. He hopes to create between 20-30 of these when he visits Honduras this winter.
[Via AL.com: Alabama student makes prosthetic leg from bicycle; will make more in Honduras]
When we think of Dubai and much of the modern Middle East we think of excess. It is the land of man-made islands, indoor ski resorts and other seeming disposable aspects of our modern culture. However there could be a change coming, as Dubai-based We Ace Golf has partnered with American-based Golf Balls Unlimited.
The buzz word for 2013 could very well be “upcycling,” a term we first heard last year. Instead of scrapping old materials to make new, upcycling efforts build new products with the old and save the process of using energy to recreate a fresh material.
We’ve seen much in the way of taking plastic bottles and other materials to create fleece fitness apparel, the question remains what happens when the fleece starts to wear out? Instead of it ending up in a landfill perhaps it go another step. ReFleece is a new company that is taking old Patagonia fleeces and turning the used fabric into protective tablet cases for the iPad and Kindle.
While perhaps it is best to wait for the St. Bernard to bring the drinks, for those who want to carry a bit on the slopes Stanley introduced its recycled plastic flask at this year’s Outdoor Retailer Show. It features a two-stage lid that makes it easy to fill, easy to clean, plus it is leak-proof.
We continue to watch for innovative companies that solve a common problem – namely what to do with old or broken fitness equipment? Green Mountain Ski Furniture is one company that has found a use for old and broken skis by transforming the old skis into chairs, tables, benches and racks.
We’ve noted the trend in materials being used in the construction of hockey sticks. Composites are being used more and more and the advantage for players is clear, but so is the cost. Likewise, composite materials have a problem in that these are not easily recycled.
Show some patriotic spirit this holiday season with a bottle from Liberty Bottleworks of Washington State. The company was founded in 2010 and makes water bottles in its Union Gap factory from recycled aluminum. Currently the only American-made metal bottles, these are BPA free and made from 100 percent recycled materials. The company offers a number of collections, but we’re partial to the Freedom line above!
With a name like ReCycle you can pretty much guess what the company makes: bikes made from recycled materials, including aluminum. The concept behind the company is that recycled aluminum takes 95 percent less energy and creates 95 less CO2 emissions than creating it from virgin material. As such 75 of aluminum processed since the 1880s is still in use.
Building a ski resort in the desert isn’t exactly the “greenest” thing we can think of, as it takes a lot of energy to make the snow, cool the slope and run Ski Dubai. In fact the facility is actually fairly green in its own right as it was build used green building techniques and has implemented a number of green policies and practices including effective waste management, energy saving initiatives, recycling and advanced refrigeration and insulation systems. But now Ski Dubai is looking to take this a step further to reduce its carbon footprint.
Students at the University of Sheffield Campus have partnered with the Heeley Development Trust to form ReCycle Bikes, taking abandoned and donated bikes and refurbishing what would otherwise likely end up in the trash and providing a n alternative form of transport. Students and staff pay 30 pounds for the recycled bikes. The school subsidized the rest of the cost to get the bikes up to the proverbial speed. This solution provides a way for students to stay healthy, get around and keep unwanted bikes from just rusting away.
They blend into the landscape and even if we notice them, many think they’re eyesores. We’re talking about billboards. But here is something most of us never think about: what happens to the materials after the ad campaign is over? What becomes of the billboard?
The problem with many fitness and athletic products is that there is little that can be done with the material once it breaks. Some products can be recycled – such as metal bicycle frames – but all too often the broken parts and equipment is simply abandoned or tossed in the trash. For surfers this is a problem because even when thrown in the trash broken boards can end up as floating garbage.