Tree Hugging

Some Green words from Elbry at RiderRunCompany

These days it seems everyone is desperate to promote themselves as being "green." With climate change making itself ever more apparent and those scientist-types telling us all to "ACT NOW!" virtually every company across the world is scrambling for new ways to cut emissions, save resources and reduce that all important carbon footprint. Maybe I'm just cynical, but the majority of claims made by the larger companies don't really seem to add up, yesterday I saw a big company's maintenance van in a petrol station filling up with diesel. It had an advert on the back of it declaring itself as a "carbon neutral" company, must be a new type of diesel then! The simple truth is that a lot of companies are not really interested in saving the
planet. Instead they make bold and misleading claims over their "clean-up
efforts" in order to capitalise on public interest and save themselves a few
quid each year courtesy of the tax man. So what makes us any different?

Rider Run Co is committed to making as little an impact on the environment as possible. This commitment does not stem from financial gain or legal obligations, but from an actual interest in our surroundings and their future. People are drawn to mountain biking for many reasons, but a simple appreciation of nature and the outdoors is probably just as common as "I just love the buzz." I personally do not want to see my local trails under water/oven baked and i'm sure most of you feel the same way. As such, we take several steps to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible.

· We recycle more than 90% of our office waste.

· We plant trees every winter (and hug them more times than is probably healthy!).

· We save fuel because we don't pay reps to drive around the country promoting us. They are out there though, just look for them at events or riding spots. Or better yet, just contact us over the internet!

· We send out our goods in degradeable paper packaging(usually recycled) instead of plastic packaging.

· We only advertise in download magazines like Wideopen. Paper magazines require trees to be cut down on a regular basis. Besides, we probably couldn't afford to even if we wanted to, since we put most of our profits back into mountain biking through events, riders and clubs.

However, there is only so much that we can do on our own, in order to make real changes in the industry we need help from YOU. For instance, we have received several requests for Rider Run Co stickers. Instead of printing off loads (and inevitably ending up with some left over as waste) we want YOU to show some individualism and creativity. Come up with your own designs and get your local printer/sign maker/sticker man to produce only as many as you need. They'll appreciate the extra business, the environment won't be damaged by unneccessary waste (e.g backing paper, printing chemicals etc) and you will end up with something totally unique! Send us some pics and we'll even put them up on our myspace site!

We as consumers have the power to change the habits of those who provide us with products. Next time you want a new frame/t-shirt etc. check out the environmental credentials of the company and their importers. Don't be shy, just ask them what measures they take to reduce their environmental impact and what they give back to their sport. Wherever possible try to support those companies that you feel give something back to both riding and the environment. In this way you will help smaller companies like us to prosper, as well as forcing the bigger companies to change their ways. Now go out and hug a tree!