POC is a leading manufacturer of helmets, eyewear, body armour and apparel, and has been awarded more than 70 international safety, design, and innovation awards. The latest launch, Myelin, is a helmet designed for all cyclists, especially with everyday use and commuting in mind. The ability to simply deconstruct the helmet is achieved thanks to an innovative design and construction of each component. It’s made of 50% recycled materials which are secured together with strategically placed fasteners and a unique recycled fabric weave shell, eliminating the need for adhesives and laminated materials. This allows for the separation of individual pieces of material at the end of the helmet’s life. Once these fasteners are cut, the helmet deconstructs into its constituent parts and it has been designed for deconstruction by anyone, simply, with the use of tools available in most homes.
POC also presents a new fit system, inspired by the snap-fit systems seen in baseball caps, allowing riders to fine-tune the helmet fit very simply. The straps are made in a single piece that crosses the entire helmet to keep everything secure, instead of using anchors immoulded in the EPS.
— We wanted to question the idea that safety and sustainability could not obviously co-exist in a helmet. As a protection company, our first priority is the safety of riders, but we also place on ourselves an obligation to use our planet’s resources respectfully. So, we wanted to challenge the conventional way of creating a helmet, in particular by starting with recycled materials, how it is manufactured and how it can be deconstructed so as to allow for all the materials to be used again. Myelin points to a world where resource use and protection merge naturally and provide even more reasons to ride a bike, says Claes Nellestam, senior designer.
— We want to provide the highest level of protection to cyclists and our natural resources. By adopting a resource-efficient bio-circular perspective we have clear ideas on what resources are needed to fill the function of our products, choosing preferred materials such as recycled or bio-based. But also choosing materials that will maximize the product’s durability, lifetime, and recyclability. Our goal is to keep improving, but we also want to show what is possible and lead the way in helping us all use resources in the best way possible, sustainability manager Marie Sjöström adds.
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