Bamboo Bikes from Zambia

Zambikes – Bamboo bikes made in Zambia

Helping to improve the environment is something that everybody can achieve on a day-to-day basis. In fact, if the world is to change for the better it can only realistically be achieved and sustained if everyone contributes.

Environmental problems, however, are often rooted in worldwide economic practices and intercontinental industrial patterns. Indeed, the developing nations are those which the developed world turns to for cheap labour, under priced materials and extensive manufacturing.

Unfortunately, by doing so, the developed nations condemn them to decades of economic dependence that serves to produce an unskilled and uneducated workforce that barely earns enough money to feed itself. As a natural consequence, these developing nations are unable to combat environmental problems to the extent that
developed nations can.

Thus, when an opportunity arises to buy eco-friendly products on fair trade terms from a developing nation, it should be grasped with enthusiasm. One such example is that of Zambikes, which is a bicycle manufacturing company that has been recently established in Zambia. Zambikes offers a very specific range of bicycles: those made from bamboo! Indeed, Zambikes builds high quality bicycle frames completely out of local bamboo reserves, in addition to plant fibre cords used in assembly and varnish for finishing. It
takes around one week to build the frame and add the wheels, brakes, etc., and Zambikes employs local craftsmen to complete the work rather than carbon-emitting machinery. Not only does this serve to virtually eliminate the company’s carbon footprint, it keeps much of its revenue in the local Zambian community. Zambikes are expected to hit the US, European and worldwide markets in the near future.

There’s also a good article about Zambikes on the BBC website here

First published 20 July 2009. Please note that blog posts remain live, and any offers or information may no longer be current when you view this page.

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