Feature

From waste to wheels: Cycling towards a circular economy

As industries grapple with sustainability targets, igus has taken a significant step towards a circular economy with its game-changing igus:bike – an urban bicycle made predominately from recycled ocean plastic.

04/03/2025 11:50:51

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Plastic waste has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. With millions of tons of plastic ending up in landfills each year, the consequences for marine life, ecosystems, and human health are severe.

According to the 5 Gyres Institute, over 171 trillion pieces of plastic now float in our oceans – a tenfold increase since 2005. This growing crisis underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to reduce, recycle, and repurpose plastic waste.

igus has long been committed to tackling this problem by achieving a more sustainable approach to plastic production. Starting in a garage in Cologne-Mülheim in 1964, the company has grown exponentially over the past six decades.

Today, it serves around 188,000 customers from over 50 industries worldwide, its products found in everything from cars, cranes and furniture, to machine tools and robots.

Introducing the igus:bike
One of its most notable achievements of recent years was the launch of the igus:bike, now rebranded as RCYL, in 2022.

Read the full article in DPA's March 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.