Sustainability at Bespoke

There's that word again, "Sustainability", it's a bit of a buzz word these days. These practices are very important to us at Bespoke, whether it’s in house or within the companies with whom we choose to do business. As time goes on, there are more and more products and technologies available to help us improve on what we are already doing. Our manufacturers and suppliers are also at the forefront of responsible manufacturing practices.

Here are some of the things we are doing as a shop:

We strive to do as much as possible to be a paperless business, we only use about 5 reams of paper per year, all of which is recycled/post consumer product.

We use a Local Union printer that specializes in green printing practices.

We use a low volume flash heater for our hot water.

Our cleaning supplies and associated products are also biodegradable or low impact products.

Our furniture and fixtures were all made locally and use a fair amount of reclaimed materials.

In the mechanical services we offer, we use a small ultrasonic parts cleaner which uses plain old soap and water. The typical equipment found in most shops is an automotive grade solvent tank that uses a disturbing amount of caustic solvents. We offer as many environmentally friendly lubricants and cleaners as are available. There are times we have to use chemical cleaners or solvents but we keep it to a minimum. Not only is this responsible but it keeps us healthier.

The bikes we sell are as green as they get. Over 95% of the bikes we’ve sold to date are made in the USA. Simply the fact that these companies adhere to our country's environmental laws sets them apart from the mass produces bikes of the world. Our builders also take steps to ensure they are doing everything in their power to do even better. The clothing we sell is also primarily made in North America and in the European Union. This is not a coincidence; we’ve just made the effort.

The fact that these companies are also making the absolute best products available today is the result of a similar ethic. These people live, work, and ride in the communities where they are producing their products. They are accountable, passionate, talented cyclists who strive to be the best in every facet of their industry. This is why we work with them.

What does the future hold? As we discover better products, we will certainly be looking into them. We are lucky to live, work and ride in one of the world's most beautiful places. We want to keep it that way.