work4bike

The article says that the helmet is wax covered to make it waterproof, but in many cases these wax coverings make the paper/cardboard useless for recycling; my area will not recycle cardboard milk cartons.

I'm curious where they will get the paper to mass produce the helmets. How many trees are we talking here...?

I-Like-To-Bike

One or two should cover the likely production run of this product.

fietsbob

Whole shipping containers of cardboard is what goes back to China , re pulped, made into a new box.

Though there are shiploads of timber coming out of PNW ports going there too.

Milton Keynes

I do too, and after a couple rides I think it would be time to toss it in the trash, sorry, recycle bin.

Maelochs

A lot of "recycled" material unfortunately also goes to India and other exceedingly poor places, where starving kids pick through the piles for the one -in-one hundred usable piece and the rest is landfilled.

U.S. municipalia have realized that the law says they have to collect a certain percentage of the waste stream as recyclables and send them to be processed ... but it doesn't say and cannot control whether the recipient simply landfills the lot ... and including shipping that can sometimes be done more cheaply in India or Sri Lanka or Bangladesh than it can in in New Jersey or Ohio.

Nowadays people throw almost everything plastic, paper, or cardboard into the recycling bins ... but only a fraction of it gets recycled. Sorry.

Ty0604

I had no idea. Thanks for the input. We empty our recycling bin here about three times a week while the trash only about once a week. Unfortunate to hear that most of it isn't even being recycled.

Ty0604

Milk/juice containers don't contain wax fyi if you were suggesting that. It's a thin coating of plastic. My area accepts them for recycling but most areas don't. Haven't come across waxed cardboard since I worked at a grocery store a few years back. At the time we had to throw it away.

linberl

I'd much rather see some kind of adjustable helmet available at bike share stands. Maybe people could purchase their own internal liner to deal with the hygiene issues. Just rent a shell with one of the rear wheel adjustments and pop in your own liner (which is padded to fit you). Maybe use a snap system like the Bern helmets have. The liner would easily pack up into a purse or briefcase or other bag.

Milton Keynes

I was just thinking... this helmet made of paper, will it skid on the pavement like plastic covered styrofoam helmets in order to prevent neck injury, or will it (assuming it doesn't just fall apart when you hit your head on the pavement) catch and drag on concrete yanking your neck back? I'd think this flimsy paper wouldn't skid on concrete very well.

79pmooney

I will not buy one, unless they are for sale in say Italy when I travel there. But a helmet that can be obtained for close to nothing, folds up and fits in a purse or bag and that can be worn for week then recycled with no guilt about either money spent or landfill pollution; sounds like a winner for both the tourist and the host city, especially the smaller businesses that cannot afford parking.

This helmet doesn't look much worse than a lot of the helmets I see out there which are presumably CPSC approved.

And in response to I-Like-To-Bike, $5 for a one time use is a lot, unless you have to pay $35 to get that "real" helmet to rent that bike.

Ben

Moe Zhoost

So the straps are paper too? That's comforting.

Ty0604

Cardboard. I can't tell how it connects below the neck though.

Upon further reading the helmet is coated in a biodegradable coating that is rain proof for up to 3 hours.

Videos of the helmet going through impact test are available online. I'm impressed.

work4bike

You are correct, I stand corrected. I was going off very old information that I remember reading from my local recycling program from years ago.

However, my point is still valid that these wax-covered helmets are not recyclable. Ask the Editor: Recycling Wax Paper - Earth911.com

Azreal911

with the amount of times you ride and dispose of the helmet after like 24-40 rides you can easily own one of these which folds into a manageable form.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/m...t-technology#/

Closca | Fuga: urban and foldable bike helmets ? safety certified

both are fully certified CPSC (US)/Canada.

Ty0604

Read post #62 though... The coating is biodegradable not permanent.

work4bike

Yes, I know it's coated with a corn-based biodegradable wax, which makes it a great candidate for composting, but not so much for recycling, at least for now....

From what I gathered, there are some that are looking into how to recycle these products, but as of now they are best for the compost pile. What NOT to Put in the Bin - Earth911.com

Ty0604

I need to put this up in my condo complex. The crap that makes its way into the recycle bin is incredible. Couches, trash etc.

Kaze6

It reminds me that I need to buy new decorations this Halloween.

I can see how it's supposed to protect, but I think that plastic would be a better material -- unless you can guarantee never having to ride on a wet day. If it DOES protect, and the price is reasonable, it should find a ready market with commuters. I wish her every success.

work4bike

It's a problem across the country. Here are two very interesting articles that address this problem. What's really bad is that you can contaminate a whole batch of recyclables with something like a greasy pizza box...

Plastic Bags, Mailing Envelopes, and Food Containers Aren't Worth Recycling - CityLab

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local...00c_story.html

Daniel4

Statistically speaking, pedestrians and motorists need this helmet more than cyclists. They have so much more fatalities than cyclists do.

Ty0604

Thanks for the link. I think a big issue in my complex is the lack of English speakers here. A majority of my neighbors are from the Middle East due to the companies we have around here.

Stadjer

In the autumn it can get quite windy here, so might get hit by branch when cycling.

WizardOfBoz

That was my thought, too. If it's paper, it's going to soak up sweat and wear out. If its plastic impregnated paper, why not just use an expanded polystryene helmet? More durable. No need to replace frequently. You're using plastic anyway.

The eco helmet also looks like it has limited cranial coverage. "Eco" is small consolation if the limited coverage of the helmet leads to traumatic brain injury.

I-Like-To-Bike

If I were you I would lay off the "statistical speaking" about risk since you seem to have no clue on how how to accurately measure or evaluate it.

work4bike

I came across this article from bicycling magazine and it has a video in the link. Not a good message showing the rider throwing away the hat after a very brief ride. Would You Wear a Paper Helmet? | Bicycling