The cycling industry gets away with some pretty wasteful practices, which it often waves away under the pretense of "it's bikes, so it's green." The reality is that buying less, repairing and reusing your things, and riding more locally are the best things for the earth; however, we applaud the brands that are trying to reduce their impacts on the environment too. The perfect is the enemy of the good, so it's great to see people working towards better. Let's take a look at the recent announcements that move the industry forward in reducing its impact on the environment.
Northvolt Creates Lithium-Ion Cells with 100% Recycled Nickel, Manganese & CobaltSwedish battery producer and recycler, Northvolt, has created its first lithium-ion cells using 100% recycled nickel, manganese and cobalt.
Founded in 2016, Northvolt has been working to "enable the European transition to a decarbonized future" with a focus on producer and recycling electric vehicle batteries. Its latest breakthrough sees a huge development as they have been able to create lithium-ion cells using 100% recycled nickel, manganese and cobalt. Upon electrochemical performance testing of the recycled cells, they were found to have performance on par with those made using freshly mined materials.
In addition to using recycled nickel, manganese and cobalt from batteries Northvolt are also able to recover copper, aluminum, plastics and other materials which it recycles through local companies.
 | What we have shown here is a clear pathway to closing the loop on batteries and that there exists a sustainable, environmentally-preferable alternative to conventional mining in order to source raw materials for battery production. The recycling process can recover up to 95% of the metals in a battery to a level of purity on par with fresh virgin material. What we need now is to scale-up recycling capacities in anticipation of future volumes of batteries requiring recycling.— Emma Nehrenheim, Northvolt’s Chief Environmental Officer and head of Revolt |
Muc-Off Pledges to Save 200 Tons of Plastic by 2023Muc-Off has increased its pledge to reduce plastic after exceeding its target set in 2020.
Previously Muc-Off had set a goal of removing 30 tonnes of plastic by 2023 but it has surpassed this 18 months ahead of time as back in July this year they reached 94 tons of plastic saved. Muc-Off has now increased its goal to a lofty 200 tons by 2023. Since it announced the new goal MucOff released its new
Punk Powder a completely plastic-free bike cleaner.
 | It’s awesome to have reached our latest milestone. Our new target is to make sure that we’re continuing to push full steam ahead in our mission to save as much plastic as we can. We’ve made phenomenal progress in the last year, but there’s so much more work to do.— Alex Trimnell, CEO at Muc-Off |
Call2Recycle Will Work with Specialized on eMTB Recycling ProgramSpecialized has teamed up with Call2Recycle to help build a battery recycling system among its retailers.
At the start of 2021 we covered the news that Specialized was
working with one of Tesla's co-founders Jeffrey Straubel and his company Redwood Materials to recycle all of its US batteries by the end of this year, but now the brand has joined with non-profit Call2Recycle to help build out a network with retailers.
The result of this new program means Specialized and Call2Recycle will train retailers of its eMTBs to become registered battery collection sites for recycling. Once a bike shop has completed the training they can be found on Call2Recycle's website as a location to dispose of your batteries.
 | Electric bikes are a powerful tool in the fight against climate change, and the challenge of battery recycling is larger than what Specialized can solve alone. That is why we are proud to be one of nearly 20 bike brands who are working with PeopleForBikes to develop an e-bike battery recycling program which serves the entire industry. We are proud to lead this effort, and to use our experience for the benefit of the bike industry and the planet.— Mike Sinyard, Specialized founder and CEO |
Endura Launches PFC Free SprayFollowing Endura's decision to stop using PFC-based coatings on waterproof clothing, it has launched a PFC-free Re-Proofer.
The new Re-Proofer is a biodegradable and PFC-free solution to keep water out of any waterproof clothing. Endura says it will clean and restore the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating on your clothes leaving them refreshed for wetter conditions.
Endura's Re-Proofer is available now with 60ml costing £3.49 and 300ml priced at £9.99.
Vittoria to Double Production Capacity with Carbon Neutral PlantVittoria is set to expand its operations again as it looks to spend $20 million to double its production with a new Thailand facility.
The new production plant aims to employ around 400 people and is expected to be operational by the end of 2022. To help offset the impact of increasing its tire production Vittoria has committed to running the facility with solar energy, intelligent climate control and incorporating recycled materials where possible. While it hasn't released any evidence for this claim, Vittoria is saying this will be the world's first carbon-neutral production.
Rotor Moves to Sustainable PackagingFollowing the example of brands
including Trek and Cannondale, Rotor has launched updating packaging that focuses on using sustainable materials to transport its products.
Rotor says the new packaging is not just an aesthetic change as they incorporated the same packaging across all of its products. With the new packaging, Rotor has used either recycled or eco-friendly materials to support its environmental responsibility.
1 of the 6 points is about Vittoria doubling production to sell more stuff. Great. How about make your existing production carbon neutral before expanding? That might have been worthy of including in this article.
As well E-Mt Bikes can reduce shuttling with trucks in some areas.
Just some thoughts...
Look shoes from 2008 are still going, although a bit tattered.
If you wanna buy "green" cycling products then find local production and locally or even regionally sourced materials, otherwise save this shit for the people stupid enough to think it's meaningful. Cycling is nothing but a giant collection of not in my backyard manufacturing and distribution sitting atop a pyramid of electronic media advertising.
youtu.be/tIpbYyR0OOI
Every day there is another BS article about who is greener than green.
I’m tired of these articles.
Truth hurts. Don’t be envious.
Besides, who really enjoys living in a crappy small apartment where you can smell your neighbors farts?
Y'all just love to complain.
Wishing you a speedy recovery from your head injury buddy, get well soon.
JAG didn't storm the beaches "right behind the Marines", "a*shole." And JAG sure as f*ck doesn't "drop in behind enemy lines."
I'll tell you what your grandfather would be ashamed of, he'd be ashamed of you trying to steal credibility for your stupid ass anti-American views but trading on his service and lying about his contributions. Go sit the f*ck down, take the floppy shoes off, put the big red nose down, and stop being such a clown.
Thanks for asking all the same though, my life is great... so great that I don't even need to make to lies about the achievements of my relatives to express my views and I really don't think anything is horrifying. Propagandist media and idiots believing it is pretty disappointing but certainly not horrifying.
Your all a bunch of hosers hootin' and hollerin' about who's better at this and that. I say we settle this on the ice boys.
Well...except Teslas. :-D
But in the next couple months you can get your own domestic Model 3, so wins all around!
Tesla builds all its factories from subsidies by goverment... tax payers in the US fund everything Tesla has ever built, and then Elon gets additional funding from local governments wherever he builds. Jesus man, bad enough you had no clue what your granddaddy was doing as a JAG 70 years ago but you don't even know wtf is going on in the world today, no wonder it's all so "horrifying" to you.
"Literally" nothing you said about your grandfather was true you clown... not once in the history of the Judge Advocate General corp have they "dropped in behind enemy lines to train some indigenous people" so give it a rest.
And I just gave you the facts about Tesla, you can accept reality or continue to be ignorant and live in a fantasy land. Given your misrepresentation of your grandfather's service, I think we know you'll choose to live in fantasy.
And awful is lying about your grandfathers service and using ad hom to defend your lies and ignorance, so I'm well in the clear... I feel bad for your grandfather, that he sacrificed and the punchline of his lineage is you must haunt him.
Funny that you wanna rant about karma while you're out here telling lies and throwing a tantrum that you got called out on it. "Karma" has clearly already balanced the books since I'm out here enjoying life and you're making up lies to trade on grandpa's service cause you're so "horrified" by everything... seems that we've each gotten just what we deserve.
I don't know if it was intentional or just editorial oversight, but that shit is some good ironic comedy either way.
Sinyard is such a slimy piece of carbon.
E-bikes and hybrid cars are a landfills worst nightmare.
“ We're evolving our business for three reasons. First, so Pinkbike can keep doing honest reviews and important reporting–from environmental issues to doping stories to advocating for higher rider salaries.”
Basically they will be charging us to view content that is promoting their woke agenda.
Keep this site about bikes, and stop drinking the woke Kool-Aid.
Muc Off make way to much shit, I mean theres cleaner for discs, frames, polish, lube,degreaser, handlebar wipes, pedal pin polish, inner tube cleaner, internal bar wash, all that plastic, just stop ! making all this in the name of business, money, how big does any company need to be ? its a bit like a world domination greed thing.
Why cant you just do refill dispensers in bike shops like coffee refil, purchace a standard size container and re use.
They were on about expanding product line a while ago with bags, packs and stuff, as if it wasnt an already saturated market. More More More, get to fck the lot of it.
Don't forget the knob in between cleaner lol
This would only be true if it replaces a mode of transportation like a car and I doubt that is taking place as much as a marketing team would like to believe.
Stop Traveling for Press camps
Ppl aughta ride from home / build trails in biking distance or public transit accessabd actually pedal places
Localize race circuits, dont travel.
End the motorcades and support semi trucks
Ride durable equipment that doesnt need replacing.
How about all these companies retroactively clean up what’s they’ve created?
Buy green credit with proper environmentally responsible agencies that will install green power and initiatives.
50years of doing nothing and then a greenwash drop in the bucket is patronizing
What?
Also, what are freshly minded materials?
OR just put them in a box which would make them last a lot longer?
Who would have thought that !
You are living in a social media world where algorithms can often lead you to think your opinion is pervasive in society. It is not.
I am pissed that you take up air on this earth, die and go to hell you disgusting hypocrite.
stacker.com/idaho/counties-most-concerned-about-climate-change-idaho
Read the nature.org one too
www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/idaho/stories-in-idaho/tackling-climate-change-in-idaho
thenarwhal.ca/climate-poll-bc-ottawa-2020
cleanenergycanada.org/poll-fires-and-heatwaves-creating-urgency-around-climate-issues
www.google.com/amp/s/biv.com/article/2020/11/pollution-climate-change-weigh-most-british-columbians-minds-poll%3famp