Trek: Producing aluminum can also be environmentally friendly

Aluminium Rohmaterial

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Trek Bicycle publishes its 2024 Sustainability Report, highlighting the company's ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon emissions. Among other initiatives, the report also outlines Trek's green aluminum program and a supplier agreement designed to significantly reduce emissions.

"Our sustainability report isn't just about tracking progress, it's about accelerating it," says Joel Demeritt, Global Sustainability Manager at Trek. "We're laying the groundwork now for big changes in just a year or two. It's necessary work that's making a difference beyond our walls, and we look forward to getting more companies to join us."

The quest for the greenest aluminum bike

One of the standout achievements in this year's report is Trek's efforts to transition to eco-friendly aluminum, starting with its most popular models. Following an emissions audit in 2021, Trek found that aluminum produced in fossil fuel plants was the largest contributor to overall greenhouse gas emissions. However, when the same aluminum was produced in facilities powered by renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar and wind energy, total emissions decreased significantly.

In response, Trek launched a large-scale outreach to its suppliers and partnered with the Dutch non-profit organization Shift Cycling Culture, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and other bicycle brands to develop training on the core concepts of sustainability and accounting.

At the same time, Trek developed a new aluminum sourcing policy that requires compliance with a set of criteria. Thanks to this partnership with forward-thinking suppliers, Trek's first eco-friendly aluminum bike frames are already available at select Trek dealers.

In 2025 and beyond, this program will expand to other bikes and aftermarket products and has the potential to reduce emissions across the Trek portfolio.

"We're not just here to build bikes," says Trek President John Burke. "We're here to make a difference. Using eco-friendly aluminum is a huge step forward that will allow us to reach our goals faster than expected, but the real impact we can have is proving that this is possible so that more companies in the bike industry and beyond will follow this path."

More than just the bike

Trek's sustainability report also highlights ongoing advances in packaging. These include Trek's "Red Barn Refresh" used bike program, which extends the life of used bikes and keeps them out of landfills, and other ways the company is working toward a better future. This includes efforts to support PeopleForBikes, the Trek Foundation and NICA.