Happy New Year 2026.
I'm Ota, the representative of BICYCOVER.
Although this New Year's greeting is quite late, I hope you will continue to support us this year.
As the new year began, I once again took a fresh look at the "value" that BICYCOVER can provide.
In a world overflowing with bicycle covers and products, what can a small company like us do? What can we offer?
A changing environment and our responsibilities
The world is currently undergoing major changes.
Global warming is progressing rapidly, and even here in Sapporo where I live, it feels like there are more and more warm days that make it hard to believe it's winter.
Looking at the southern seas, rising sea temperatures are causing an increasing number of coral reefs to die.
We live in an age where "cheap and decent" things are overflowing and being consumed.
BICYCOVER has always strived to create products that are both convenient and well-designed.
However, we need to stop and think again about whether this guideline will be enough in the future.
We at BICYCOVER are a small company and we can't do everything.
That is why we want to provide value by focusing on what only we can do.
Even if I can't do anything big, I want to do something, even if it's just a little, that will benefit the next generation.
"Durability" is the greatest value contributor
Since our founding, we have placed great importance on durability, and we believe that this has been appreciated by our customers.
"We don't want to deliver products that will quickly become trash" and "We want to deliver high-quality products." This is the only thought that guides us in delivering our products.
In 2026, we aim to further increase this value and contribute to reducing the number and amount of discarded bicycle covers .
This choice isn't just for the environment.
This will provide economic benefits to users, and as a result, reduce disposal costs and delivery/packaging resources for society as a whole, inevitably reducing the environmental burden.
I want to create that kind of cycle.
Reduce waste by "one sheet equivalent to four to six sheets"
It is estimated that the number of bicycle covers discarded in Japan each year reaches several million.
Cheap covers often break down after about six months.
On the other hand, BICYCOVER is designed to last for two years, or three to four years depending on the environment.
In other words, by choosing one BICYCOVER, you can reduce waste by 4 to 6 times compared to other companies' products.
By popularizing it as a natural option rather than something expensive and special, it will bring about the following benefits:
[Benefits of reducing waste]
-
User benefits:
It is far more economical than replacing items every short period of time, and it also reduces the hassle of replacing, ordering, and receiving items. -
Social benefits:
This significantly reduces the materials and fuel required for manufacturing, packing, and transportation per cover.
[Benefits of reducing waste volume (total weight)]
- Reduced costs of garbage collection and incineration (because garbage costs are calculated by weight).
- Reducing environmental impact through resource efficiency.
Next challenge:
Durability per weight and switching to new materials
To achieve this goal, we will first work on developing new materials to extend the lifespan of each product.
The current fabric is also a highly durable material made from reinforced polyester fibers coated with polyurethane and ripstop processed to increase tear strength.
However, going forward, we will continue development to further improve "durability per weight."
We aim to create a lightweight yet strong fabric that does not use fragile parts and is even more resistant to UV degradation and tearing.
As the first step towards this policy, the following specification changes have been decided for the next production lot.
Use of PFAS-free materials
We will switch to materials that do not use PFAS (Perfluorooctaphenylalanine-sulfonic acid), which are difficult to decompose in the natural environment and pose concerns about their impact on the human body.
Installation of ventilation openings
By creating an "escape route" when blown by the wind, it prevents the item from falling over and also increases the effectiveness of preventing it from getting wet due to condensation.
Conclusion
Even in modern times, things don't just magically appear.
Even with the advancement of AI, manufacturing is still supported by knowledge, experience, and human hands.
It may be a small step, but we will work on it little by little, starting with what we can do.
We look forward to your continued support of BICYCOVER this year and in the future.
