What is low-impact aluminum? This is how Trek is betting on a better world

Trek Bikes has launched its 2024 Sustainability Report, where it reaffirms its commitment to the environment and presents significant achievements and goals in reducing carbon emissions. The brand, perhaps the most popular in the world, is urging the entire industry to act more quickly in the face of climate change.

"The most important thing is not to manufacture bicycles, but to have places to go out and ride": Trek's key advances and commitments for a better future

Since the publication of its first report in 2021, Trek has launched ambitious initiatives to minimize the environmental impact of its activities. This year, the cycling company announces that its short-term goals have been validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), ensuring an action plan aligned with scientific recommendations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Among the main validated objectives, Trek plans to:

• Reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions from scope 1 and 2 by 68% before 2032.
• Generate all its electricity from renewable sources before 2030.
• Decrease greenhouse gas emissions from scope 3 by 30% before 2032.

The report highlights that Trek's total emissions in 2023 were reduced to 475,873 metric tons of CO?e from 895,000 tons in 2021. Although this decrease was partly due to lower production in 2023, the company is confident that its new initiatives will achieve significant and sustainable long-term reductions.

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These are some of the main advances in the 2024 report:

• Transition to cleaner aluminum: Trek now sources aluminum from factories powered by renewable energy, reducing emissions associated with the production of certain bicycle frames by up to 70%.
• Increased use of recycled materials: incorporation of recycled foam in helmets, bottles made with a composition of 95% plant-based materials, and plastic-free packaging.
• Optimization of electric bike batteries: Trek is extending the lifespan of batteries and facilitating their recycling through practical solutions in collaboration with Call2Recycle.
• Renewable energy: Trek now powers 100% of its global headquarters and main factory with clean energy, and aims to do the same for all its infrastructure by 2030.
• Promotion of sustainable mobility: through programs like PeopleForBikes and the Trek Foundation, Trek invests in making cities more bike-friendly and accessible to all.

What is low impact aluminum

Aluminum has been identified as the material with the highest contribution to Trek's emissions. To address this challenge, the company has renewed its sourcing policy, collaborating with suppliers that use renewable energy in aluminum production. Thanks to this initiative, emissions generated in the manufacturing of aluminum bicycles are expected to be reduced by up to 70%.

The first frames made with this aluminum are already available in stores. Trek projects that widespread use of low impact aluminum in components such as frames, forks, handlebars, and wheels will substantially reduce their total emissions, bringing them closer to achieving their climate goals set for 2032 ahead of schedule.

With these actions, Trek Bikes continues on its path towards sustainable transformation of cycling and inspiring other companies to follow its example towards a greener future. This is how their president John Burke explained it:

"We don't just manufacture bicycles, we also work to make a difference." "This report illustrates our progress, but above all, our commitment to expanding horizons to achieve a real impact."