httpv://youtu.be/6XqJiXdkFiU
The video above tells the story of how Bicycled Bikes is turning cars into bicycles. Some of the uses are truly inspiring.
Tag: recycling
Biodegradable Clothing Line Introduced
Puma’s new InCycle Collection is made with its end of life in mind. The collection, which includes shoes, clothing and accessories, that only contains items that will break down in one of two processes. This “biological cycle” features fiber materials that are organic and non-toxic and can be broken down by microorganisms into biological nutrients; while “technical cycle” items such as metal and plastic fastenings can be reclaimed through Bring Me Back programs and even sent to factories to be used in new items.
One example is the Puma Track Jacket (above), which is made of 98 percent recycled polyester that is derived from used PET bottles. Even the zipper is made of recycled polyester and the entire jacket can be turned back into polyester granulate and serve as a secondary raw material at the end of its run. The Puma line of InCycle products will be available for the spring collection.
SIA Looks to Recycle Old Gear
The pristine mountains often don’t look so pristine at the end of the season. And while winter turns to spring often much of the outdoor gear that won’t survive another season all too often ends up in landfills. But now the SnowSports Industries America’s Snow Sports Recycling Program has looked to repurpose much of that old material and help utilize it in construction or even landscaping, and in some cases into new products.
The Snow Sports Recycling Program has reportedly collected more than 350 tons of skis, snowboards, boots, poles and helmets – and that’s just in the Denver and Salt Lake City metro areas!
So far material such as composite lumber is being reused to make decking, furniture, store and tradeshow fixtures; while other materials are being recycled into stackable blocks and cultured rock for the landscaping industry. Continue reading SIA Looks to Recycle Old Gear
From Tarps to Ski Bags
Last week we reported about a new start up in Los Angeles called Rareform, which turns old vinyl from billboards into surfboard bags. Perhaps Mat Dusting of Kingston St. Mary should give them a call as he’s started his own venture, where he takes discarded truck tarpaulins and makes rucksacks and holdalls for ski boots and skis. Dusting is even taking upcycled – the dujour term for recycled – seat beats to create the straps. He recently showed off his products at the British National Ski and Snowboard Show.
[Via ThisIsTheWestCountry: Kingston St Mary businessman turns tarps into ski bags]
School Projects Launch Recycled Skateboards Business
Most big companies don’t start as the result of a school project. Or if they do it is something like FedEx, which Fred Smith came up with while studying at Yale University, not a project for a fifth grade class. But that is exactly how Phoenix residents Devin and Lisa Kelley founded Recycled Skateboards International (RSI) after creating a birdhouse from recycled – upcycled – skateboards.
Now the Kelleys are in business recycling/upcycling old skateboard decks and other parts. Continue reading School Projects Launch Recycled Skateboards Business
Made in America: Alchemy Goods
There is an old saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Seattle-based Alchemy Goods essentially operates on that principal, and it creates new products from what many of us would likely just toss in the garbage.
This includes inner tubes, and to date the company has reclaimed more than 182,000 tubes from across the country and used these to make durable products including messenger bags and belts. Alchemy Goods has also partnered with REI bike shops and Trek retailers to obtain the tubes – ensuring that bike shops that do accept tubes actually have somewhere to send them.
On each product that Alchemy Goods produces it stitches a tiny number in the upper right hand corner, and while small it has a big significance – as it represents the percent by weight of upcycled material that goes into each product. The company strives to make this numbers as high as possible by incorporating as much upcycled material as they can. Continue reading Made in America: Alchemy Goods
Look Inside Nike Sustainability
Last week Nike released its Sustainable Business Performance Summary, in interactive form. This report is meant for consumer consumption and really illustrates the efforts the company is making to reduce, reuse, recycle and be responsible. It’s worth taking a look.
Upon loading the site you use the scroll wheel on your mouse to make the action start. As you scroll, a runner picks up speed across the screen. Scroll backwards and she runs backwards. Take a peek.
Nike Responsibility Report
[via: TriplePundit: Nike Challenges Customers to Design Their Own Virtual Green Athletic Wear]
Plastic Fantastic to Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is a wondrous material, but it has some shortcomings including the fact that it isn’t that easy to recycle. However, last week came word that the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory was working on a way to transform used plastic bags into carbon fiber, and this composite could even be fine-tuned, allowing different types of carbon fiber to be created for specific applications. Continue reading Plastic Fantastic to Carbon Fiber
Re-Cycling Your Old Bike Gear
Cleaning out the old bicycle parts bin always seems to start as a simple task, but can often turn into quite a dilemma. What should be kept or pitched? What has value, and what might be worth the hassle of selling on eBay or Craigslist? What has no real monetary value, but is still a functioning part that could have some use? Even for the latter, there may be an option other than the trash can for those parts and bikes that are still good, but not worth the hassle of selling. In a word: donation.
Trek to Recycle Old Carbon Cycles
All good things come to an end, and that means today’s hot new road bikes will someday be old news, outdated technology and just ready to be replaced (even Lance Armstrong’s road bike at the left). It might be hard to even think about it, especially when we see the sticker price on those new carbon bikes – but carbon isn’t exactly as timeless as a diamond, at least not in the processed form.
The downside is that many space age composites are designed not to degrade so easily. Carbon fiber doesn’t rust like steel, but unlike steel, aluminum or titanium carbon can’t be melted down as scrap metal. In other words carbon fiber isn’t exactly a “green” technology, but now it seems Trek is just one bicycle maker looking to get on the recycling band wagon. Continue reading Trek to Recycle Old Carbon Cycles
Loeka Women’s Cycling Clothier Starts Recycling Program
It’s hard to let go of that loved cycling jersey, or the shorts with the perfect padding. If you recycle the garments, they really are going to a better place … back on the trails. Women’s mountain biking label Loeka Clothing just started a clothing recycling program that gives incentive to those who turn in their gear for recycling.
Loeka started manufacturing women’s mountain biking apparel in 2005; just enough time that the clothes might be showing just a little wear, or you might want to switch it up for a new design. Fill out a form on Loeka’s website and either mail in your gear or take it to a participating retailer. Retailers currently include Ruckus Skis, Boards and Bikes in Prince George BC; Ski Dazzle at Silverstar Resort; Mt Washington Alpine Resort, Mt Washington BC; Pedal Chic Greenville, South Carolina; and Iride Vermont, Stowe, Vermont.
Continue reading Loeka Women’s Cycling Clothier Starts Recycling Program