We Need To Talk About Cycling And Sustainability
CYCLING WEEKLY|September 16, 2021
Compostable bags are an excellent first step, but we should be asking for changes to bike production, Michelle Arthurs-Brennan hears
Michelle Arthurs-Brennan
We Need To Talk About Cycling And Sustainability

Sustainability is taking up more space in the psyche of most consumers, but you wouldn’t be alone if setting a goal of ‘be more sustainable’ felt paralysingly equivalent to climbing an unstable mountain made from your own annual disposable coffee cup waste output.

Thankfully, none of us have to be environmentally angelic to make a difference.

“Don’t be afraid not to be living the perfect life. As long as you are taking steps and looking at where your impact lies, that’s what matters,” reassures founder and director at Shift Cycling Culture, Lian van Leeuwen.

What steps would be the most effective to take? Dissecting and altering the habits of generations is no easy task, but we asked Van Leeuwen – one of the three directors behind the non-profit sustainability organisation currently working with household names such as Specialized, Rapha and Muc-Off – to give it a go.

Measure your impact

If you don’t know about ‘SMART’ goals, where have you been whilst the rest of us have been striving for anagram-based self-improvement? SMART goals are: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time related.

Homing in on the ‘M’, Van Leeuwen notes: “Look into where your impact lies, it might be flying to events overseas, it might be nutrition, it might be the amount of product you buy; there are a lot of tools for that to help you keep track.”

Shift’s website lists several apps, such as the United Nations Environmental App ‘Capture’ and The Nature Conservancy Calculator.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 16, 2021-Ausgabe von CYCLING WEEKLY.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 16, 2021-Ausgabe von CYCLING WEEKLY.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS CYCLING WEEKLYAlle anzeigen
"We tore around the Sydney suburbs at 60kph in a terrifying, feral pack"
Cycling Weekly

"We tore around the Sydney suburbs at 60kph in a terrifying, feral pack"

Fast, furious and furry tales from Australia

time-read
3 Minuten  |
October 17, 2024
RIDDEN AND REVIEWED BROMPTON G LINE £2,499
Cycling Weekly

RIDDEN AND REVIEWED BROMPTON G LINE £2,499

A Brompton for running riot in both town and country

time-read
4 Minuten  |
October 17, 2024
How do different gravel conditions impact your tyre choice?
Cycling Weekly

How do different gravel conditions impact your tyre choice?

There are a myriad of tyres on the market but selecting the right one is easier than you think

time-read
3 Minuten  |
October 17, 2024
FEAST OF SWEDEN
Cycling Weekly

FEAST OF SWEDEN

Soon after landing in Gothenburg, I began to realise how little I knew about Sweden.

time-read
6 Minuten  |
October 17, 2024
THE WORLD'S GREATEST GRAVEL EVENTS
Cycling Weekly

THE WORLD'S GREATEST GRAVEL EVENTS

Globe-trotting gravel racer Joe Laverick chooses his eight favourite events, from coastal Wales to the wilds of Kenya

time-read
7 Minuten  |
October 17, 2024
THE CALL OF THE WILD
Cycling Weekly

THE CALL OF THE WILD

Tempted to embark on a long-distance bike adventure? Let former round-the-world record holder and author Julian Sayarer inspire you to strike out and hit the road

time-read
7 Minuten  |
October 17, 2024
Saint Piran accused of using non-UCI legal bikes
Cycling Weekly

Saint Piran accused of using non-UCI legal bikes

Cornish team also alleged to owe former staff tens of thousands of pounds

time-read
3 Minuten  |
October 17, 2024
JOE LAVERICK GETTING INTO THE FEED ZONE
Cycling Weekly

JOE LAVERICK GETTING INTO THE FEED ZONE

I've ridden through hundreds of feed zones in my time racing a bike.

time-read
1 min  |
October 17, 2024
Lowden not ready to stop after retirement
Cycling Weekly

Lowden not ready to stop after retirement

Former Hour record holder eyes UK time trial scene

time-read
2 Minuten  |
October 17, 2024
Pogačar makes history (again) at Lombardia
Cycling Weekly

Pogačar makes history (again) at Lombardia

Slovenian makes it four in a row at the late-season Italian Monument

time-read
3 Minuten  |
October 17, 2024