Tag Archive: Sustainability

  1. Segway looks set to improve its sustainability further after LCA success

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    Zag Daily looks at how Segway is minimising its environmental impact with the incorporation of recycled plastic and metal into the production of its e-scooters.

    Segway was already aiming to increase its dependence on recycled materials when leading international testing organisation TÜV SÜD studied its environmental impact, and awarded Segway with its first ever Life Cycle Assesement (LCA) award.

    The LCA has facilitated the brand to improve its understanding on carbon emissions and its causes, and build on its recycled materials commitment by working with TÜV SÜD to identify and enforce improvements across its product life cycles (in terms of resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact) to meet its sustainability goals.

    Sustainability evaluation with TÜV SÜD

    Segway’s electric scooter models S90L and Max Plus X were evaluated by TÜV SÜD, and measured by 18 environmental impact categories such as global warming impact, ozone depletion and fossil resource scarcity.

    TÜV SÜD’s findings identified Segway’s raw material stage as a key area for improvement, highlighting its aluminium alloy structural components.

    Since gaining valuable insight into the findings, Segway has responded by highlighting its ongoing commitment to reducing emissions and placing sustainability at the forefront of its quest to identify greener and lower carbon substitutes for its raw materials and components, particularly for plastic and metal components. Recent vehicles developed by the company have used approximately 41% recycled metal in their total metal weight.

    As part of its efforts to further improve its carbon footprint, Segway is also committed to achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

    Read more about Segway’s sustainability work.

  2. Nominations are open for the 2025 Sustainable Transport Award

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    Source: ITDP

    ITDP and the Sustainable Transport Award Committee are inviting you to nominate your city for the 2025 STA, which will also mark the 20th anniversary of the programme. Nominations are open until April 5, 2024.

    Is your city or region making noteworthy advancements in transportation, street design, or policy changes aimed at enhancing mobility and the overall well-being of its residents? The Sustainable Transport Award (STA) offers a distinctive global acknowledgement, evaluated by a panel of international experts in sustainable transport and development, to highlight the often overlooked progress happening at the grassroots level.

    ITDP and the STA Committee invite you to nominate your city for the 2025 Award. Nominations will be accepted until April 5, 2024, and applications can be accessed at staward.org. Anyone with knowledge of city initiatives and project details can submit a nomination. If your city is shortlisted for the second round, further information will be requested.

    Since 2005, the Sustainable Transport Award has honoured bold leadership and vision in sustainable transportation and urban liveability. These initiatives aim to improve mobility for all residents, curtail transportation-related greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, and improve safety and accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians. Nominations are encouraged from all interested parties, including government bodies, civil society organizations, and academic institutions. Nominations must include verifiable project data and city contact information.

    Cities of varying sizes around the globe have been recognized by the committee for their exemplary practices in sustainable transport. A comprehensive list of previous winning cities, along with details of their achievements, is available here. Past winners include:

    • Jakarta, Indonesia
    • Fortaleza, Brazil
    • Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
    • Santiago, Chile
    • Yichang, China
    • Mexico City, México
    • San Francisco, United States
    • Ahmedabad, India
    • Bogotá, Colombia
    • Paris, France

    The 2024 Sustainable Transport Award was presented to Tianjin, China, for its initiatives to promote sustainable mobility through the expansion of non-motorized transport (NMT) infrastructure, emphasizing cycling, walking, and public spaces. Tianjin was accompanied by one STA honourable mention — the City of Peshawar, Pakistan — acknowledged for its endeavours to transition its bus fleet to cleaner, more efficient vehicles.

    To further showcase and delve into the success stories of these winning cities, ITDP and the STA Team will host the Sustainable Transport Award Series 2024, a webinar series throughout the year exploring the elements and policies that led to these cities’ recognition by the STA.

  3. A call is open for the CIVITAS Replication and Deployment programme for 24 Champion Cities

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    Source: CIVITAS

    The CIVITAS initiative aids cities in accessing innovative solutions and tackling their transportation issues by facilitating activities including twinning sessions, co-creation workshops, and site visits.

    A call is open until 16 January 2024 for Champion Cities, to work alongside selected Challenge Cities. These cities must have expertise in one of three areas:

    1. Sustainable urban logistics (Selected Challenge Cities: Funchal (PT), and Bruges (BE))
    2. Placemaking and participatory processes (Selected Challenge Cities: Riga (LT), and Istanbul (TR))
    3. Universal design and accessibility (Selected Challenge Cities: Kadıköy (TR), and Komitini (GR))

    Champion Cities will share their expertise and best practices with the selected Challenge Cities. The selected Challenge Cities are listed above with their respective topic area.

    From 2023 to 2027, CIVITAS plans to enlist 12 Challenge cities and 24 Champion cities to participate in the programme, involving diverse take-up and transfer activities such as twinning sessions, co-creation workshops, and site visits. Through the CIVITAS Replication and Deployment programme, the 12 Challenge Cities will each craft a Deployment Plan aimed at resolving their specific mobility challenges.

    Fill in the Champion Cities application form.

  4. Dott completes refurbishment of 10,000 e-scooters

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    Dott, the responsible micromobility operator, today announces the complete refurbishment of 10,000 of its shared e-scooters. The achievement will double the expected lifespan of those vehicles to seven years, cutting carbon emissions per kilometre by nearly 50%.

    The milestone coincides with the publication of Dott’s latest sustainability report, covering 2022 initiatives. Dott continued to drive down its CO2 emissions in 2022, reaching a total 63% reduction in CO2 emissions per kilometre since 2020.1

    Reducing our impact:

    The refurbishment project removes the need to purchase new vehicles, which has the biggest impact on Dott’s overall carbon footprint. Taking place in Lyon, France and Warsaw, Poland, the scooters are completely dismantled by a dedicated team of specialists, sorted into parts for either recycling, repairing or reusing and then fully renovated and painted. The 10,000 refurbished e-scooters are now supporting trips in Dott cities across Europe.

    Dott also advanced its recycling rate across its operations throughout 2022, sending 90% of all waste to be recycled, compared to 80% in 2021. The figure meets Dott’s 2025 target ahead of time, leading to a renewed, ambitious target of 95% of all waste being recycled in 2023.

    Supporting our teams:

    The launch of Dott’s ‘Ride Your Future’ programme in 2022 provides training to operations and ground teams across software tools, communication, management and organisation skills. Classes take place during paid, working hours, and in 2022 a total of 40 people have been able to develop new skills to further their careers.

    Tackling pollution in cities:

    Dott’s most mature cities now operate under 30 g CO2 per km, a figure which is equivalent to public transport,2 and close to reaching an overall target of 20 grams of CO2 per km ridden by 2025.

    Maxim Romain, Co-Founder and COO, Dott, said: “In 2022 we progressed towards mass adoption of our service, doubling the number of rides whilst continuing to drive down our carbon emissions. We have demonstrated our commitment to sustainability with a major refurbishment programme, fully rebuilding 10,000 e-scooters so far to double their lifespan, eliminating the need to manufacture more vehicles. By focusing on responsible operations we aim to keep generating a positive impact for our teams and the people living in the cities where we operate.”

    The environment and social impact are at the heart of every business decision at Dott. The micromobility company has set out its goals and progress at ridedott.com/sustainability.

  5. Call for R&D lightweighting projects

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    Source: Eureka Network

    Submissions deadline 25th April: Funding has been set aside by a host of EU and other countries, for any organisations who are collaborating on international R&D projects in lightweighting.

    Submissions of R&D project applications can be made until 12.00 CEST on 25th April; project consortiums must include organisations based in a minimum of two of the following countries / regions: Austria, Belgium, (Flanders and Wallonia), Canada, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden and Switzerland.

    R&D lightweight technology projects are the focus of the call, as these innovations award sustainability and commercial value. Trans-border partnerships and alliances are a requirement for success, and permit access to customers, technologies and best practices for stakeholders’ businesses and research bodies.

    Funding for the projects varies from territory to territory. For example, Switzerland grants a maximum of 70% of the total cost, while South Korea grants up to 500 million KRW (approx. 370,000 Euros) per year up to 3 years. Projects need to be positively evaluated by all participate funding bodies in order to receive funding in accordance with the funding budgets for each. Self-funding is an option.

    Eureka’s Network projects consortium does come with some eligibility directions, for example the project must be directed at researching or developing an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation and must have a civilian purpose. Additional directives are required in order to be eligible for funding, for example the product or process must be innovative and with the potential to create impact and not exceed 36 months.

    Applications are via multiple channels. Perhaps most simple is by creating an account on the Eureka application portal, after which applications will be reviewed by the corresponding territory bodies. Evaluations of each project will relate to the impact they have made on the market, the innovation and excellence, quality and efficiency of its implementation and its overall perception, judged by a panel of experts who will list three positive and negative elements for each.

    More information and a contact form can be found here.

  6. New WEEE data gives insight into collection and recycling rates

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    Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment

    Close to half of all waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) across Europe is not properly processed.

    New figures include data for WEEE that is difficult to gather information for, and therefore may not have been previously reported to the European Commission under WEEE Directive obligations. These regulations aim to address environmental concerns by promoting sustainable production and consumption, particularly in light of the growing number of discarded electronic items.

    Electronic waste contains a complex mixture of materials, some of which are hazardous. These can cause major environmental and health problems if the discarded devices are not managed properly. In addition, modern electronics contain rare and expensive resources, which can be recycled and reused if the waste is effectively managed. This is of course a priority when considering the finite resources available for manufacturing.

    The law regarding WEEE

    Secondary law

  7. LEVA-EU member Bird Publishes Independent Vehicle Life Cycle Analysis, Setting a New Standard for Emissions Reporting Quality

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    The report launched in Paris today will be the industry’s first ISO-critically reviewed LCA and indicates ‘Bird Three micro-EV’ is among the lowest emission vehicles in Europe, with a five-year lifespan.

    Bird Global, Inc., a leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, today announced a major micromobility milestone as the company is set to become the first operator to achieve an ISO-critically reviewed vehicle Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), prompting a new industry standard and enabling reliable comparisons across European modes and vehicles. 

    Bird’s cradle-to-grave LCA report confirms that the Bird Three, the company’s latest and most sustainable vehicle, has a lifespan of up to five years after refurbishment and is among the most climate-friendly vehicles on the road in European cities – including other shared modes and public transport. Travelers in European cities who take a Bird Three account for on average approximately 21% less greenhouse gas emissions per kilometer than taking the metro, 77% less than driving a gas-powered car, and 87% less than taking a ride-hail car.

    The LCA emissions model was reviewed and documented by Ramboll, an independent Denmark-based engineering and consulting company, specializing in sustainability and corporate responsibility.  The LCA is being critically reviewed by EarthShift Global, a third-party ISO expert, to ensure that the methods, data, and analysis are consistent with ISO standards for LCA. Bird’s LCA is also one of the industry’s first aligned with the New Urban Mobility Alliance’s (NUMO) forthcoming LCA guide for cities. 

    Manufacturing and assembly of Bird’s electric scooters is included within the LCA along with additional manufacturing of components for replacements, transportation of vehicles to target European cities, charging and fleet management, and scooters’ disposal at end-of-life.  Conservatively, the LCA takes no credit for Bird’s renewable energy credits, carbon offsets, or robust program of end-of-life recycling. 

    The hardware and software powering Bird Three have been expertly crafted to create the most eco-conscious shared e-scooter available with best-in-class durability. Features include Aerospace-grade aluminum and the Bird Three’s proprietary battery system which travels farther on fewer charges, with industry-leading IP68-rated battery protection to keep it safe from dust and water. The vehicle also boasts independently tested and verified impact resistance; pneumatic tires and smart acceleration technology to reduce wear and tear. 

    “Bird’s LCA sets a new industry standard for emissions reporting quality, enabling reliable comparisons across European modes and vehicles, and helping Bird to identify and reduce emissions wherever possible,” Shane Torchiana, CEO, Bird. “Not only does this work further demonstrate our commitment towards the planet, but is a call to action for all other operators to follow the same standard so that together, we can address misconceptions around vehicle lifecycles and educate our city stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions when selecting a responsible micromobilty partner.”

    “By following expert recommendations and best-practice methods for their LCA, Bird is demonstrating leadership in their commitment to rigorous, transparent greenhouse gas emissions reporting, which will enable city governments to make more informed decisions and – if widely adopted – enable emissions reductions across the micromobility sector,” Leah Lazer, Research Associate, New Urban Mobility alliance (NUMO), World Resources Institute.

  8. Sharing the calculation methodology of the ‘Cleanest Dirt Bike Ever’ – CAKE

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    Following the last announcement of an Open Source project between Vattenfall & LEVA-EU member, CAKE, with the aim to commercialize the first fossil-free vehicle to be launched 2025, CAKE releases the calculation methodology (Life Cycle Assessment) behind the project.

    The ambition is to minimize the CO2 footprint of the Kalk OR dirt bike to as close as zero as possible without offsetting. The process will combine success with disappointments that will be shared transparently with the aim to inspire and accelerate the obligation and transition of the industry towards zero emissions.

    Sharing the methodology to inspire stakeholders

    Since 2021, the project team has taken the complete Kalk OR apart and analyzed each component to conclude the total production footprint of 1,186 kg CO2e as a starting point. The methodology behind calculating this footprint, via a life cycle assessment (LCA), has been openly released to the public on the CAKE website. The system boundary for this Cleanest Dirt Bike Ever project, which defines what is taken into consideration and what is excluded, includes every single part and process of the bike. It also restricts all offsetting.

    Helping the general public grasp environmental impact

    So how much is 1,186 kg CO2e? Buzz words like carbon footprint and environmental impact when talking about bikes, and products in general, can be abstract and tough to understand. To bridge this gap, CAKE and Vattenfall launched THE CUBE to visualize the equivalent volume of carbon dioxide, 1,186 kg CO2e, that the CAKE Kalk bike emits during production, and thus what the project aims to reduce to zero.

    In addition to visualizing the CO2 footprint with THE CUBE, the partners of the Cleanest Dirt Bike Ever are taking the next step to explain the calculation methodology behind the numbers; Life cycle assessment (LCA). As only a handful of stakeholders know what an LCA is, and how to perform one, the published article takes the reader step-by-step through the process of performing an LCA and its results.

    Learn more about the steps behind an LCA and how the project partners calculated the footprint of the Cleanest Dirt Bike Ever.

    About the project

    Going fossil free isn’t just about how things are powered, it’s about removing the carbon from how things are sourced, made, transported, and assembled. So, while electric vehicles are a good start, they don’t take us far enough.

    Solving the greatest challenge in human history demands that we rethink conventional ways of doing things. It demands that we break silos and collaborate far beyond industry borders. And it demands we do it today, because the future can’t wait. The project essentially combines CAKE’s expertise in innovation and engineering with Vattenfall’s expertise in electrifying industries and decarbonizing entire production chains.

    Together the collaboration will reinvent the wheel, the suspension, the saddle, and every other part of the CAKE Kalk OR with the aim of making the first truly fossil-free vehicle. The team will reduce its current estimated carbon weight of 1,186 kg CO2e to an absolute minimum by 2025, making what they claim to be ‘the cleanest dirt bike ever’. Every single setback, breakthrough, and finding will be shared along the way to inspire others.

  9. Greenway expand their Danish joint venture, Viridus Manufacturing A/S, for battery production

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    In 2019, LEVA-EU member Greenway invested in a new battery pack manufacturing facility, Viridus Manufacturing A/S in Aarhus, Denmark. After 3 years of growth, the site was ready for expansion and doubled production capacity.

    From the very start, the manufacturing factory had a focus on sustainability, running with zero net emissions. In order to improve zero-emission measurements, a completely new building was planned and constructed by the Danish Viridus team. The factory’s battery equipment, automation, and production know-how came from the Chinese Greenway team.

    In August 2022 the Viridus team moved into the new site and started production. The building is carbon-neutral and packed with sustainable features like a wastewater recycling system, biodiversity gardens, CO2-neutral heat pump, reusable building materials, waste sorting, solar panels, bike charging stations, and a healthy indoor climate.

    The Danish battery production is supplied by 100% renewable energy, and electric cars are used for internal transportation. Furthermore, all employees have access to training facilities, healthcare, and a healthy canteen environment.

    The new site in Aarhus, Denmark, received a Gold DGNB German Sustainable Building Council certificate for the focus on sustainability and recyclability. Congratulations, Viridus team on fantastic work!

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