Turning waste into opportunity

TURNING WASTE INTO OPPORTUNITY

ENVIRONMENT

LOW COST, FIGHTING PLASTIC POLLUTION, AND TACKLING SOCIAL MOBILITY CHALLENGES. INTRODUCING BAGCYCLE’S RECYCLED PLASTIC REVOLUTION In a world of EVs, electric and hydro-

firsthand how important access to

gen-powered aircraft, drones and urban

simple, affordable transportation is,

air mobility solutions, even robotaxis,

and how lack of opportunities incr-

you’d be forgiven for overlooking the

eases social inequality even further.”

humble bicycle. But if we’re serious about tackling social inequality,

Bagcycle is Garcia’s solution to these

building more sustainable cities and

challenges. Its eponymous two-

communities, and providing access

wheeler is made from recycled plastic

to decent work and economic growth

– around 8 kg or 800 plastic bottles

for everyone, you’d be wrong to do so.

Just ask David Garcia.

“Childhood, getting to school, to work, or studying to be an engineer – I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had a bike to connect me with those opportunities,” says the Colombianborn engineer and founder of Bagcycle, which makes foldable, low-cost bicycles from recycled single-use plastic bottles and bags. “People are losing opportunities like that.

Commuting is essential for social and economic development, just as sustainability is for living. I know 81

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

DAVID GARCIA, FOUNDER, BAGCYCLE

“Childhood, getting to school, to work, or studying to be an engineer – I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had a bike to connect me with those opportunities”

per bike. “Even though plastic can be

“I really believe that everything can

harmful to everything around us, it’s

be done better,” adds Garcia. “Yes, we

still the most produced and used mate-

can use plastic for long-lasting prod-

rial worldwide,” he says, discussing

ucts, but why not for fighting social

the evolution of the Bagcycle concept.

inequalities and tackling air pollution,

“Products made with plastic usually

or for fulfilling personal needs and

have the shortest life cycle ratios,

social mobility? Once I’d identified

meaning waste and pollutants grow

these problems, the focus was on cre-

faster than consumption. The solution

ating a safe, effective, and affordable

isn’t just stopping using plastics,

mode of transport that’s also a tool for

we’ve already accumulated too much

people to become change agents.”

waste. Instead, we must prevent what’s already in the environment

Single-use waste plastic is the perfect

from becoming the invisible, but more

medium to work with, says Garcia –

dangerous, microplastics.

it can be recycled multiple times

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

82

LEADERS IN INNOVATION Bagcycle is an advanced participant of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowships programme that supports startups working towards sustainable development in their respective countries. Other advanced participant solutions include sustainable building materials made from natural bamboo and using a zero-waste process; ready to assemble and modular sustainable construction solutions for affordable homes in underserved communities; a water treatment system that processes polluted water into clean; and a vertical lake system that uses rainwater to produce fish for food in two weeks.

83

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“The solution isn’t just stopping using plastics, we’ve already accumulated too much waste.

Instead, we must prevent what’s already in the environment from becoming the invisible, but more dangerous, microplastics” without losing its inherent features,

Garcia’s vision is that Bagcycle con-

making it a readily available raw mate-

nects people with opportunities in

rial to help contribute to a new

much the same way his own bike did

generation of economic growth and

when he was young. The high costs

development. The recycled plastic in

associated with essential needs like

Bagcycle’s design is strong too, due to

transportation are yet another form of

its flexibility, shock absorption capac-

discrimination, he says: “It just segre-

ity, and resistance to corrosion. Its

gates under-privileged people from

lightness means it can fold down small

society and opportunities, and widens

enough to be carried in a backpack.

social inequality. Making Bagcycle affordable for everyone means that our

The company works with small and

environmental, social, and economic

vulnerable communities to collect

impact is positive and exponential.

waste plastic. Says Garcia: “For a long time, plastic collectors and vulnerable

“Using a Bagcycle helps people solve

communities that recycle have been

their own transport problems while

ignored, and their work undervalued.

also contributing to wider sustainable

They’ve developed the expertise and

development and change,” he notes.

knowledge in separating and classify-

“One of the challenges in modern society

ing waste materials and, as a result,

is that we’re so used to behaving and

they have social security, are organised,

thinking primarily of ourselves rather

own their own cooperative companies

than collectively as humans. To address

and they have been trained and

this we’ve made sure that, for every

supported in working safely and sustain-

Bagcycle that’s sold another is given to

ably. Working with these communities

someone who needs it for free. It’s more

is all about respect, empowering them

than gifting. It’s giving someone the

into the production circle and econo-

opportunity to study, work, and have

my, and ensuring they have fair work

a better future.”

and life conditions.” bagcycle.org C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

84

citizenzero.online