RIDING ON SUSTAINABILITY

Igus has launched the world's first bicycle made from 90 per cent recycled ocean plastic, celebrating its 25th anniversary in India and 60th globally.

- Deepak Paul

Currently on a worldwide tour, this innovative, maintenance-free bike was in Bengaluru. In an interview with Nisha Shukla, Dr. Thilo Schultes, CEO of DryTech New Business, along with Deepak Paul, Managing Director, and Santhosh Jacob, Director of Igus India, discussed their choice to use recycled plastic, the challenges faced, the potential for local supply chain development, the Indian market's response to the bike and future plans.

In a recent interview, Dr. Thilo Schultes, CEO of DryTech New Business at igus, shared the inspiring journey behind the creation of a bicycle made almost entirely from recycled motion plastics. The concept originated over fifteen years ago when igus' entrepreneur, Frank Blase, experienced recurring issues with corroded rental bikes during his holidays in Florida's humid climate. This sparked the idea of developing a bicycle that could withstand such conditions without succumbing to rust, leveraging igus' six decades of expertise in motion plastics.

The project gained momentum about four years ago through collaboration with a Dutch start-up that had initial concepts for a plastic bicycle. This partnership led to the development of over 130 prototypes and eight major design iterations, culminating in a product where all major components, including ball bearings and gears, are made from plastics. This ensures durability even under the stresses of heavy riders and uneven terrains.

WHY PLASTIC OVER STEEL OR ALUMINIUM?