The notion of recycling, re-purposing and re-building rather than buying new is gathering pace. Yet the biggest challenge of the second hand market is sourcing a reliable supply chain of goods.

Second hand bikes are a great example of an opportunity which is not yet fully exploited. Cycling is a quick and easy way to reduce a person’s carbon footprint, not to mention the obvious health benefits that come alongside. Yet bikes are expensive and good second hand models are not easy to come by.

While some businesses like the Exeter Bike Workshop and Ride On, already sell second hand bikes, it’s hard to source a reliable supply.

We’re looking for someone with the insight needed to work out the logistics of how to find and recycle bikes or someone to look wider at supporting the reuse/rewear market with other products but on a commercial scale.

Why?

More than 224,000 tonnes of CO2 were saved by Brits buying secondhand over the last year. This study was commissioned by an online marketplace so only calculates their own sales – the real figure will be even higher.

So what difference could we make if quality, affordable second hand goods were easily accessible to all?

Bicycles are just a starting point. Fewer than half the population of England own or have access to a bike – and just 1% of journeys are made by cycling.

Bikes are inherently repairable and reusable and there is a large and readily available second hand market – but the idea of creating a sustainable supply of any second product can go a long way towards protecting the future of our planet.

How? 

Currently second hand goods are easily found on peer-to-peer sites like Gumtree or eBay but to make the sale of upcycled products a commercial enterprise, we need to find a way to source stock on a large and sustainable scale.

We need someone committed to the idea of conscious consumerism who is enthusiastic about creating a way to quickly and easily find second hand items at volume and distribute these to the businesses who will sell them.

If you’re keen to work on the procurement logistics of the recycled bicycle market – or any other – we’re happy to fund your project.

Send us your ideas