PEDAL-DRIVEN PROGRESS: CANYON’S PATH TO RESPONSIBLE BIKE PACKAGING THROUGH PACK4GOOD INITIATIVE

Canyon Bicycles increases sustainability credentials of its Bike Guard after enlisting help of Canopy, a solutions driven organization working to reduce paper packaging pressure over world’s forests

EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY 31st JANUARY 2025, 11:00 CET: Bicycles being shipped from Canyon’s Koblenz distribution centre now feature enhanced environmentally-friendly credentials thanks to an initiative with Canopy, an environmental non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the world’s Ancient and Endangered Forest, which are of critical importance for protecting biodiversity, wildlife, and the climate..

With the best-practice learnings from Canopy’s Pack4Good initiative, Canyon set out to rethink the way it packages and ships its bikes, focusing on reducing its environmental footprint while ensuring it continues to protect bikes on their way to customers.

Customers purchasing bikes from Canyon online typically order a sturdy, cardboard Bike Guard to protect their bike during delivery. Although Canyon’s Bike Guard already set a high standard for protection and durability, Canyon saw an opportunity to improve it by further minimizing its environmental impact.

Through various initiatives and adjustments, Canyon’s Packaging Team worked to reduce the materials used, lower emissions, and cut back on waste. Examples include reducing the size and paper packaging used for Bike Guards for certain bikes, switching to recycled plastic locks, increasing recycled plastic content, and the removal of plastics where possible.

These efforts not only decreased the ecological footprint of the Bike Guard but also helped to optimize costs without compromising on quality or performance. Through these measures Canyon calculated a total saving of 297,900 EUR and approximately 65,000 kg of CO2 emissions.

“At Canyon, we see it as our responsibility to protect the environment and reduce our impact on the planet. As part of our partnership with Canopy’s Pack4Good initiative we’ve achieved a reduction in the amount of paper packaging we use and taken a step to reducing pressure on the climate and on biodiversity-critical forests. We’ve also reduced packaging waste, lowered our carbon emissions, and we’re using materials from certified sources that also protect forests,” said Anne Bauer, Lead Packaging Engineer.

These efforts are in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of using more responsible production practices, supporting ecosystems and biodiversity, and helping to mitigate climate change, as well as being closely linked to Canyon’s Forest Conservation Policy, also developed in collaboration with Canopy, which is a commitment to protecting forests and ecosystems.

“We recognize that forests, especially Ancient and Endangered Forests, are vital for biodiversity, water regulation, carbon storage, and climate change mitigation. They also play a crucial role in the health of our planet. Since 2022 we’ve made it a policy to responsibly source forest-derived materials, avoid deforestation-linked products, and support global conservation efforts for use in our business operations,” continued Yvonne Swoboda, Canyon Global ESG Director.

Speaking about Canyon in their recent Pack4Good case study, Canopy said: “Canyon has made substantial progress in sourcing materials responsibly and is now reporting on their environmental progress through the Carbon Disclosure Project. Through their partnership with Pack4Good, Canyon is setting a new standard for responsible packaging in the cycling industry, demonstrating that innovation can be both high-performance and sustainable.”

Building on these achievements, Canyon has already established an eco-design plan for packaging with goals for 2025 and beyond. These goals reflect their commitment to continuous improvements in sustainability and innovation, including exploring innovative packaging solutions like Next Generation fibres, and increasing recycled content. For more on Canyon’s sustainability credentials, visit the sustainability pages at Canyon.com.

Canopy (Homepage | Canopy Planet) is a solutions driven, environmental non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the world’s forests, wildlife, and climate. Canopy is committed to protecting Ancient and Endangered Forests by working with businesses across industries to adopt responsible sourcing practices and switch to lower carbon, lower impact Next Gen solutions.

Pack4Good helps brands shift to low-impact alternatives like agricultural residues and recycled materials, reducing their environmental footprint while driving innovation and operational efficiency. By aligning with Pack4Good, Canyon is not only safeguarding the world’s forests but also enhancing operational efficiency and driving innovation in their supply chains.

Canyon’s enhancements of its Bike Guard directly support three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – By optimizing material usage and reducing waste in our packaging, we’re contributing to more responsible production practices.

• SDG 13: Climate Action – With a focus on using materials that lower carbon emissions and improving the efficiency of our packaging, we’re helping to mitigate climate change.

• SDG 15: Life on Land – By partnering with Canopy to protect forests and use materials from certified sources, we’re supporting ecosystems and biodiversity.

You can explore the full details of Canyon Forest Conservation Policy here and see how it guides Canyon’s packaging and operations.