VELO RCYL

The RCYL bicycle made of recycled plastic is intended to sensitise people to the topic of the "circular economy of plastics" and show how robust and durable igus motion plastics are. It is the first bike suitable for series production that is made from recycled plastic – for example from discarded fishing nets that have been drifting through the oceans worldwide for hundreds of years, contributing to plastic pollution. The project thus shows how plastic waste can become a valuable resource for urban mobility, helping combat the global flood of plastic. As a pioneer, igus has done a lot of development work to make the first bicycle made from recycled plastic ready for series production. Material experts have developed a plastic compound that is both robust and lightweight and now allows a recycling rate of over 50% - with an upward trend. In addition, production techniques such as injection moulding and rotary casting have been combined in such a way that, with the exception of individual components like the disc brakes, almost all bicycle components can now be manufactured from plastic: not only the frame, the seat post and the brake levers, but also the drive unit, which was long considered technically unfeasible in the industry. The igus:bike has started a world tour in 2024 to introduce industry partners, consumers and media representatives to a new form of mobility that is fun and also protects the environment. It will come to France in summer 2025.