For me, one big reason for being involved in bikes is that they’re a fantastically environmentally friendly way to get about. I’ve also tried to do as much as possible to make the business environmentally friendly:

• Switched all shop lighting to fluorescents and LED lights, reducing the electricity demand by over 1kW.
• Switched from plastic to paper parcel tape with biodegradable glue, or staples which can be removed by magnet from the waste stream.
• Switched to backingless label pockets - the pockets that hold the invoice on the outside of the box. Normally, these have non-recyclable waxed backings.
• Use shredded cardboard or biodegradable corn starch padding for delicate items instead of expanded polystyrene.
• Streamlined the paper trail so only one A4 sheet of paper is needed per order.
• Use a cycle and trailer for moving stock locally instead of motor transport - Kinetics doesn’t own any motor vehicles.
• Recycle packaging from suppliers whenever possible - so you may get second-hand bubble wrap or polystyrene in a delivery, but we never buy these materials.

I’d like to do more. Sometimes it’s difficult to work out the best option - for example, air pocket padded envelopes are less environmentally friendly than shredded paper ones, but they’re much lighter so use less fuel to transport.