Cycling is an environmentally friendly way to get around and is an accessible mode of transport for many. However, the bike industry itself isn’t particularly known for its green credentials – carbon fibre frames, aluminium production, non-recyclable parts, batteries, shipping and logistics – all add up to a picture that’s far from green. However, changes are being made. We’ve seen considerable change in packaging from manufacturers over the last few years, with huge improvements in making it recyclable or reusable. More products we stock are being made from recycled materials, like bottle cages and handlebar grips. Bike brands really are taking notice of the green agenda and are making changes.
We recently learned of a new product by Vittoria, which could pave the way for a huge change in the manufacture of one of the industry’s most polluting parts – tyres.
As a cyclist, it may be the part of your bike that you change or repair the most. Tyres are essential and offer a way to change how your bike rides – more grip, less grip, faster, sturdier, spiked for ice, you name it, it’s on offer. But with so many tyres comes vast amounts of waste. Approximately 10,000 tonnes of tyres and inner tubes in the UK each year. Currently, bicycle tyres are not recycled here in the UK. There are some schemes which collect tyres and inner tubes, then send these overseas to be repurposed or recycled (incurring a dirty big carbon footprint, but importantly reducing waste).
Vittoria is an Italian tyre manufacturer that produces over 7 million tyres, tubulars and inner tubes each year. They are one of the largest producers in the bicycle industry and the world leader in performance tyre production. In their home country, Vittoria currently has a successful tyre repurposing scheme with Esosport. The old tyres are broken down into scraps, which are made into anti-trauma flooring for playgrounds and athletic tracks. However, Vittoria doesn’t want to stop there. They recently announced a Strategic Collaboration Agreement with retyre.
reTyre were founded by a group of chemical engineers in Norway. Their focus is on innovation and sustainability, and they are the first company capable of mass-producing pneumatic tyres without the use of rubber. The process, which took ten years to research and develop, offers an innovative new way to produce tyres that reduce CO2 emissions by 80%, allows for 100% recyclability and is dust-free and fully automated.
reTyre already produces a wide range of utility tyres (for bikes, prams, trailers, kids bikes and ebikes), but the partnership with Vittoria will see them enter the performance tyre market for the first time. Together, they will produce a 100% recyclable performance tyre. It is hoped that this partnership demonstrates a turning point in the bicycle tyre industry. If the dirtiest part of the bicycle can be made green, surely there’s hope for the rest of the bike and the bike industry?
As a stockist of Vittoria tyres, Martin was recently given a set of Vittoria Terreno Pro T60 gravel race tyres to try. These are 92% renewable and recycled. Martin will provide feedback on how he finds the tyres, but that’s another blog (coming soon)!
Roots Cycles are proud to be stockists of Vittoria tyres. Please pop in to see the tyres and discuss which might be right for your bike.
To read more or related articles, please see the links below:
Vittoria: https://int.vittoria.com/pages/vittoria-re-cycling
reTyre: https://www.retyre.eco/
Velorim: https://velorim-group.com/
Trek sustainability: https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/sustainability/