Life-Cycle Assessment of Bicycles Based on Bamboo Bending Technology

Abstract Greenhouse gas emissions have increased significantly, driven by rising energy consumption and global population growth. The manufacturing sector is a major contributor to these emissions, emphasizing the importance of assessing carbon footprints across various production stages, including transportation. This study conducted a comprehensive life-cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts of manufacturing bamboo bicycles using a specialized bamboo bending technology. Unlike conventional bamboo bicycles with tubular frames, this innovative model features frames constructed from curved bamboo panels produced by a dedicated bending machine. The assessment adhered to the publicly available specification 2050 framework, with a cradle-to-gate system boundary. Data were collected on site and analyzed using eFootprint software. Results show that manufacturing bamboo bicycles generates approximately 163.93 kg of CO 2 equivalent emissions, a 56.7 percent reduction compared with the 378.7 kg CO 2 equivalent emissions of traditional aluminum-frame bicycles. This highlights the low-carbon advantages of bamboo bicycles. These findings underscore the potential of bamboo bicycles as a sustainable alternative, providing valuable insights for optimizing production processes and promoting environmentally conscious consumption.