Luxurious electrical bike firm Riese & Müller typically ships its e-bikes the identical manner each electrical bike maker on the earth does so: in cardboard bike packing containers. However now the corporate is switching to a brand new, greener resolution.

Riese & Müller has simply unveiled its new reusable packaging. Constructed of polypropylene and sealed utilizing velcro, the e-bike packing containers are designed to be extra eco-friendly than typical cardboard packing containers.

Cardboard is after all recyclable, however its one-time use design makes it power and carbon intensive.

A reusable field would assist cut back the fabric and carbon footprint of delivery massive, heavy e-bikes world wide. In response to the corporate, the reusable packing containers can be utilized round 30 occasions earlier than finally being recycled. That may save round 80% of CO₂ emissions in comparison with typical packaging.

The truth is, Riese & Müller plans to make use of these reusable plastic packing containers worldwide for each its bikes and small elements.

The reusable packing containers are the identical dimension as typical cardboard bike packing containers, but can fold down into a lot smaller and compact types after the bikes have been delivered. These knocked down plastic packing containers can then be shipped again to the corporate by way of the identical supply platforms to be reused for future e-bikes and elements.

Trials of the brand new packing containers will start subsequent month. By early 2024, the corporate plans to include the packing containers into 60% of its e-bike packaging and as much as 70% of its packaging for delivery small elements.

In response to Riese & Müller, the brand new packaging will assist the corporate and its sellers “cut back their waste era in retail by 905 tonnes of cardboard per 12 months, which can make one other main contribution to larger sustainability within the e-bike sector.”

Electrek’s Take

That is nice, and any progress in the direction of elevated sustainability is a step in the correct route. It’s solely making e-bikes greener.

However on the similar time, I can’t assist however think about how the power and emissions financial savings of Riese & Müller’s new e-bike packaging are a fraction of a drop of water within the ocean of emissions on the market. That’s nothing in opposition to Riese & Müller. Bravo, freunde. However let’s get actual of us, closing the Autobahn for 5 minutes would have a larger impression on international CO₂ than each R&M bike field ever made.

However hey, Riese & Müller are doing what they will with what they’ve. I applaud it, whereas nonetheless encouraging of us to concentrate on the larger image: lowering international emissions attributable to transportation, power manufacturing and agriculture – the three greatest international sources of emissions. We will have a a lot greater impression if we merely journey an e-bike, put sun-blocking movie on our home windows and eat a black bean burger.

It’s not too late, however it virtually is.