THE PLASTIC PROBLEM OF THE OCEANS
- Since 1950, around 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced worldwide, half of which has been produced in the last 15 years. The production of plastics causes about 400 million tons of CO2 emissions annually.
- About 8 million tons of plastic seep into our oceans every year. 11% of this plastic waste comes from the maritime industry, in the form of used fishing gear, ropes, trawls and boxes.
- Every year, millions of animals are killed by plastic waste. Almost 700 species are affected, from birds to fish to turtles.
- If things continue like this, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans in 2050.
ECO KIDS SCOOTER FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC
Around 10 percent of the plastic waste in the oceans comes from maritime industry. Every year an estimated 640,000 tons of nets and other equipment are left in the oceans. Some of this waste is collected in landfills and then recycled to produce our sustainable Micro Kids Scooters. The running board (and brake on the Mini Micro Deluxe ECO) of the ECO Kids Scooters are made of recycled fishing nets, ropes and other plastic waste from the maritime industry. In addition, the products have the same features as the popular Mini & Maxi Micro Deluxe: the patented steering system by shifting weight promotes balance and motor skills, the handlebars can be optimally adjusted to the size of the child and the non-slip silicone footboard provides support and safety on the scooter.
THINKING IN CYCLES
We are aware of our responsibility and want to pave the way for innovative product development with environmentally responsible initiatives.
Our sustainable Micro Kids Scooters are made from recycled plastic. Used and discarded fishing nets, ropes, boxes and other plastic waste that would otherwise have landed in the sea are converted into high-quality plastic raw material, so-called «Green Plastic», through mechanical recycling. This «Green Plastic» in turn is used for the deck and brakes of the Mini & Maxi Micro ECO.
The use of «Green Plastic» not only means a reduction in landfill, marine pollution and the loss of valuable resources, but also a reduction in the ecological footprint.
FAQs
Which scooter models are available as ECO version?
Currently, the following scooter models are available as ECO version, each with and without LED wheels: Mini Micro 3in1 Deluxe, Mini Micro Deluxe and Maxi Micro Deluxe. It is possible that other Micro Scooter models will be available as ECO version in the future.
What does ECO mean exactly? What material are the scooters made of?
For the Micro ECO Kids Scooters, recycled ocean plastic, so-called «Green Plastic», is used. The deck of the Mini Micro Deluxe ECO and Maxi Micro Deluxe ECO is made of «Green Plastic», and the brake of the Mini as well.
What exactly is meant by «Green Plastic»?
The term «ocean plastic» is now widely used to describe a wide range of plastic waste that is released into the environment. Most of these plastic wastes are found in riverbeds, in sewer systems, between rocks, on beaches, in coastal areas, lakes or oceans.
As a result of poor waste management, it is estimated that approximately 1% of all plastic waste worldwide ends up in water. Many consumers believe that removing plastic waste from the world's waterways will solve the problem. They are therefore increasingly interested in products that contain plastic that comes directly from such waste and give them the good feeling of being part of a solution. Removing the plastic waste from the waterways is part of the solution, but it does not solve the overall problem. The «ocean plastic» problem is not solved by removing existing plastic waste from the environment. Rather, we must stop the continuous input of more plastic into the environment. In fact, 99% of the plastics put on the market are still on land, so better use of all these resources should be a higher priority. We need to move to a more circular economy that rejects the concept of waste and recognizes the potential of recycled plastics instead.
In our case «Green Plastic» is recycled plastic from the maritime industry. The material we use for our ECO products are not so-called "ghost nets" that are fished out of the sea, but rather discarded and obsolete fishing gear, ropes, trawls, etc. that have been used for fishing all over the world and would have landed in the sea if they had not been disposed of in the appropriate landfills. In this way, we tackle the problem at its root through preventive measures, trying to stop the constant input of more plastic waste into the waters.
Does the Mini & Maxi Micro Deluxe ECO differ in quality due to the use of recycled plastic?
No, the «Green Plastic» used for the deck and brake of the Mini & Maxi Micro Deluxe ECO is as durable as virgin plastic. The physical properties are identical to the regular material and the standards are the same.
In which colors are the Mini & Maxi Micro Deluxe ECO available?
Currently, the ECO products are available in green, mint and black, as these are the natural colors of the raw material used.
What about the packaging? Is it also sustainable?
With our ECO products we have taken special care to ensure that the packaging is as environmentally friendly as possible. We use FSC-certified paper for the packaging and have tried to reduce the amount of plastic inside the box to a minimum. The scooter is not in a plastic bag, only the handlebars are wrapped in simple brown paper to protect them from damage. The user manual is also FSC certified and is packed in a plastic bag made of degradable material.
