1bike1world's Commitment to the Planet
When I first set off on this journey I wanted to know more about our planet. While cycling along the coastline of Europe I did all I could to clean up the beaches and coves, getting up early to pick up the washed up debris while Nala played in the sand. Some finds (like my crocs) where more exiting but the majority was a lot of discarded plastic.
Everything 1bike1world produces has the environment at its forefront. From production of merchandise and the materials we use right through to the way we power the website.
300% Green Website
Our website is eco-friendly and has a positive energy footprint on the environment. Through our host server, every amp pulled from the grid to run our site is matched with 3 times the amount in renewable energy from wind power.
Why is this important? The Internet is the fastest growing carbon polluting industry and it will eclipse all other industries in terms of worldwide pollution. Today, data centres account for 2% of the world’s carbon emissions, that is as much as the airline industry.
Carbon Footprint
Planting tree’s is one of the most effective ways to lower your carbon footprint, a term used to define the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the environment as a result of our actions. By planting trees which absorb CO2 the volume used by a us can be offset by absorption and oxygen production.
For every charity calendar sold we plant one tree through the foundation ‘One Tree Planted’ in Mexico. In alliance with the Secretariat of Agricultural Development of the State Government of Querétaro, the Sierra Gorda biosphere reserve project is reforested using plants from their nurseries, from temperate climates and tropical climates alike. They count on the collaboration of other nurseries for fruit trees, which are located in neighbouring Huasteca Potosina. read more about the 30,000 trees we have planted HERE
Nala and I have also planted 2 Giant Sequoia trees with One Life One Tree. One of these giant trees can alone absorb 2.6 times the average persons lifetime CO2 footprint. Which means together Nala and I have locked in 2800 tonnes of CO2.
Paper Products
We only use FSC certified paper for our products and you will find the FSC tick tree logo on all our paper based items, these include the calendars, jigsaws and book (Nala’s World).
The FSC certification from the Forest Stewardship Council ensures that eco systems are maintained and negative environmental impacts are avoided repaired or mitigated. Not only does this certification give us the confidence that paper sourced for these products is sustainable and eco-friendly but also that it is ethical.
The FSC has 10 principles, these ensure that the social and economic wellbeing of workers and local communities is maintained or enhanced. This also includes identifying and upholding the Indigenous Peoples’ legal and customary rights to ownership of forests and land.
Our calendars are also made using 10% recycled paper.
Peeping Nala Bag and T-shirts
Our bags and T-shirts are made from 100% organic cotton, sustainably sourced from India and manufactured in Sri Lanka. All our products are made to the highest quality and are eco-friendly and sustainable.
While Nala and I travel by bike the 1bike1world team has worked closely with our suppliers in Sri Lanka sourcing materials and building the products. Through our close partnership we are confident every stage in production upholds and believes in the same values as us and to the high standard we do. The organisations we work with carry the Better Cotton Initiative AND Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certifications which are globally recognised for their commitments to the environment and sustainable sourcing.
Our garment producers are further certified under the ‘Garments Without Guilt Scheme’ which guarantees ethical working conditions. This scheme is recognised for ensuring factories are free of discrimination, forced and child labour while making sure workers are safe and paid their legally required wage and any benefits. This scheme also carries the certification that factories are following responsible environmental practise.
Packing Your Orders
The clear bags in our Jigsaws and postal mailing bags are biodegradable. These eco plastic alternatives are made from plant based materials which can be composted.
Our mailer bags can be home-composted in your compost bin or heap. If you do not have one of these they can go in your normal trash and will bio-degrade in landfill.
The clear bags inside our jigsaws holding your pieces are a PLA bio-based resin made from annually renewable resources. These bags are biodegradable and suitable for industrial composting which can be found at your local recycling centre.
Larger orders are sent using corrugated cardboard boxes with eco-friendly Kraft packing tape, both can be recycled. These materials are biodegradable and naturally break down faster than coated carboards or alternative plastic tapes.
Currently the 2020 and 2021 calendars are packed in a plastic shrink wrap recyclable under ldpe 4 plastic. we are working closely with our supplier to move towards an eco alternative.
Doing Your Bit
How can you care for your bags/t-shirts and the environment? If its not dirty wash at 30!
By reducing the temperature from your standard wash cycle to a temperature of 30° you can dramatically lower your Co2 footprint. The Energy Saving Trust confirms that washing at 30°C rather than 40°C reduces your energy consumption by 57% per cycle
Washing your clothes (if not heavily soiled) at 30° will still wash them to a perfectly good standard most of the time.
Tips for washing at lower temperatures
If you can’t find a 30°C or 20°C program on your washing machine, you may be able to manually reduce the temperature of a 40°C wash using the temperature button.
Switching to a liquid will help shift stains. We found that tough stains lifted more easily with a liquid than a powder at 30°C and 20°C.
Pre-treat tough stains with a drop of diluted detergent for the best chance at removing them.
Disposing of your items and packaging
Our compostable mailer bags can be home-composted in your compost bin or heap. If you do not have one of these they can be placed in your normal trash and will decompose in landfill.
The clear bags inside our jigsaws holding your pieces and wrapping for our calendars are a PLA bio-based resin made from annually renewable resources. These bags are biodegradable and suitable for industrial composting.
Our bookmarks, calendars, jigsaws and postage materials such as envelopes, book wrap mailers cardboard boxes and Kraft tape can recycled at your local recycling centre or collection bin under mixed papers or cardboard. (when recycling the 2020 calendar please remove the metal binder and recycle separately).
Our T-shirts and Bags are made from cotton which can be widely recycled through textile collection centres and recycle bins. When recycled, natural textiles such as cotton are pulled apart into their separate fibres and cleaned. Then they are spun back into yarn, which is then ready for use to make new fabrics.
