K2 skates announced an industry first the environmentally-friendly ECO Inline Skates. Not only are the boots and laces made from recycled plastic bottles, but the wheel frame is made from one of the most sustainable materials on the planet, bamboo.
K2 Eco’s Mao bamboo frame i inexpensive and very strong. Bamboo can have a greater tensile strength than steel. Thanks to its fine fiber structure, it transfers energy as fast as an aluminum frame, is just as durable and light but also absorbs surface vibrations – making for a very smooth ride.
The primary material used for the skate’s uppers is polyethylen-terephthalat (PET), which is a recyclable plastic coming from post consumer waste such as plastic bottles. Liners and laces are 100% PET and the mesh used in areas which need additional support is 50% PET. Other used materials are 100% PVC free.
Although a range of cuffs are available from K2, the Stability Cuff was chosen for the Eco skate because, according to the company, it’s “the best cuff we have for the widest range of skaters. The Radical and Soul Cuffs are built for certain styles of skating, while the Stability Cuff is best for all types.”
The wheels and bearings can be swapped, but everything else remains fixed. K2 chose TwinCam because the ILQ bearings represent “the best choice available for inline skates. They are the first bearings designed specifically for inline skates and the balls can handle bigger loads then ABEC rated bearings.”
Available in two styles, the Maia skate is for the ladies. The Etu skate is made for men.
The company’s packaging is all made using recycled cardboard and box logos are printed using soya-based inks. K2 is also trying to set up a take-back scheme so that when a product or material reaches the end of its consumer life, it can be returned and recycled. The K2 ECO Inlines are available for $189.99. (www.k2skates.com)
