igus unveils the world's first urban bike made from recycled plastic

Revealed at Hannover Messe, the recycled version of igus:bike is made from plastics classified as single use. Plastic components on the bike include the frame, bearings and toothed belt.

"The plastic in rubbish dumps around the world is becoming a valuable resource," said Frank Blase, igus CEO who developed the idea for the igus:bike after talking to employees of a bicycle rental company during a vacation. He discovered that the bikes were continuously exposed to sand, wind and saltwater and sometimes only lasted three months before they had to be replaced.

“As all components are made of plastic, no part of the bike rusts, even the gears – bicycle gears made of plastic were unthinkable for a long time,” said Blase. According to igus, lightweight, lubrication-free high-performance plastics are used in all parts of the bicycle, from two-component ball bearings in the wheel bearings to plain bearings in the seat post, brake levers and pedals. All of these components have integrated solid lubricants and ensure low-friction dry operation.