WHAT’S HAPPENING

World Environment Day on 5 June is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually since 1973, the event has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach, with millions of people from across the world engaging to protect the planet.

It will be the 50th anniversary of the first-ever UN international environmental conference. It was held in Stockholm and it’s fair to say we are living in a very different world today. 50 years is a long time and it’s difficult to imagine what the world will look like in 50 years’ time.

There are many challenges we continue to ask.

• What is sustainability?
• What can I do?
• How can I be better informed?
• Why is it important?
• And what do bikes have to do with all this?

BICYCLE SUSTAINABILITY

A recent study by Trek bicycles gave a really good insight into a bicycles carbon footprint (one carbon frame will consume 197 CO2e which is equivalent to burning 86L of petrol)!

HOW DO WE MAKE OUR BIKES SUSTAINABLE?

As a small company it’s complex to study carbon footprint as we have limited resources to manage all of our process and manufacturing. However we can make some good assumptions.  We know that a frame is the largest proportion of a bicycle carbon footprint. So by reducing the two materials with a negative carbon footprint can make a difference. Our recent move to create a pre-lugged frame reduces waste in the build process, although we use recycled aluminium we use 80% of bamboo on the rest of the frame.

HOW WE APPROACH SUSTAINABILITY

What people understood about sustainability 50 years ago compared to now will be night and day! It’s safe to assume that for us to achieve any of our sustainability goals we need to continually educate ourselves about solutions and behaviour changes. We believe that learning to build and maintain your own bicycle has a place in the world!

HOW TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT ON YOUR BIKE

At Bamboo Bicycle Club we promote learning and self-sufficiency as a key to achieving sustainability within the bike industry and part of our everyday lives. 

• Bike maintenance  - Check out the Park tools range of videos and guides - 691K subscribes! 
• Build the most accessible frame build kit designed and manufactured by us! We think it's the best way to learn the basics of frame building. 
• Bike tools - A must for any cyclist. worthwhile investment! Don't spend too much, you'll use them a few times a year. (hopefully!)
• Understand the brands and people you are buying from, here are some brands we've worked with and are doing a great job- Presca, Tampa Bikes and Muc-off

PURCHASING WITH PURPOSE

It's also important to purchase with a purpose, mindful consumption puts you in control of sustainable living. Only purchase what you truly need and support small companies who have sustainability at their core.

We recently partnered with Presca for some limited edition Bamboo Bicycle Club jerseys. Presca are the world’s first climate positive sportswear brand and their mission is to make the most environmentally conscious sportswear we can. And that really resonates with us. We look forward to working with them and our community on the next limited edition jerseys later this year.