Although made primarily of paperboards (cables and chains are made of metal), the bicycle is durable, fire and water resistant, and can support more than 400 lb.
"Imagine a time when every plastic or cardboard product that is thrown into the recycle bin will contribute to the creation of a bicycle, wheelchair, or toy," said Israeli engineer and inventor of the cardboard bike, Izhar Gafni. "Basically the idea is like Japanese origami, but we don't compress the cardboard and we don't break its structure. We overcome the cardboard's failure points, by spreading out the weight to create durability."
According to CEO Nimrod Elmish, "This is the literal interpretation of the saying 'one man's garbage is another man's treasure.' Our product not only uses garbage to create something of value, but also helps in building a recycling culture in developing countries."
Cardboard Technologies passed on several equity investment offers from entities that prioritized financial values over social values. According to Jeff Swartz, former president and CEO of the Timberland Co. and Cardboard Technologies' lead investor, "IGCT innovations seem to me to represent a unique opportunity for ‘moral capitalism’ in action—environmental innovation that delivers a superior product that is good for consumers and good for society. I am proud to be associated with this team."
Funds raised by Cardboard Technologies will allow IGCT to establish the first cardboard bicycle production line, thereby creating jobs, affordable transportation, and a cleaner environment, the company emphasizes.
More information is available online.
TAPPI
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