2020

We are on the move
Responsibility Report 01

Algarve, Portugal

This isthe first
stage.

Contents

Introduction 6

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emissions 48

Preface – Responsibility 7

Zero Waste 50

Vision 2025 8

Waste Management 52

Review of 2020 11

Return Systems for Used Batteries 55
Zero Emissions 56

Responsibility Strategy 13

Climate Audit – Corporate Carbon Footprint 59

Levels of Responsibility 14

Commuting Behaviour of Riese & Müller Employees 60

Mobility Revolution 17

Global Suppliers 62

Cycling Cities 20

Dialogue with Suppliers 64

Riese & Müller Ambassadors 22

Alternative Transport Logistics 66

Sustainability Revolution 24

Sharing Economy 68

Sustainable Development Goals 27

Waste Avoidance 69

Materiality Analysis 28
Responsibility Team 31

Environmental Footprint 70

Site 32

Product Climate Audit 71

Campus 33

Product Carbon Footprint 72

Practising Responsibility 34

Methodology and Result 74

Handling Resources 36

Load Cargo Bike Compared to a Car 76

Mobility Revolution on the Campus 39

Handprint 78
Quality is not a Luxury 80

People 40

The Supercommuter 81

People at Riese & Müller 43
Facts and Figures 44

Outlook 82

Good Working Conditions –Future Issues 84

Personal Development – Benefits 46

Research and Teaching 86
Bike School 89
2021 Outlook 91

Legal Notices 93
Bibliography 93

4All photos in this Responsibility Report were taken by Lars Schneider (larsschneidervisuals.com).
Roads, trails, landscapes and E-Bikes, photographed in the world’s most beautiful locations.
They show the beauty of our world that we need to protect. Read more about Lars Schneider
on page 92.

5Introduction

Heiko Müller, Dr. Sandra Wolf, Markus Riese – Riese & Müller CEOs

6

Responsibility
We consciously opted for the word “Responsibility” to express our understanding ofsustainability. After all, at Riese & Müller, doing business sustainably means, above all,acting responsibly – both as individuals and as a company. This attitude has always
been an important cornerstone of our culture, but now it also sets our strategic
direction.
We want to be the most sustainable company in the E-Bike sector by 2025. It is apath we are following and from which we are learning. It is a process that we aregoing through and from which we will develop further. In 2020, we focused on an
analysis and on the environmental issues of zero waste and zero emissions.
We would like to take others with us, to achieve something collectively and cooperatively, especially in the E-Bike sector. We have set ourselves the objective of moving
forward, generating momentum and asking questions. We would like to show thatthings can be different and that there are new ways of rethinking business, at thesame time as achieving something – both here at our site in Mühltal in the Odenwald
region of Germany, and also wherever we have a role to play.
We are committed to a product that will have a lasting impact on the transport
revolution and to a corporate style shaped by a sense of responsibility – one that
respects human rights and practises an environmental duty of care.
Many projects involve issues that lie close to our heart – our commitment to Entrepreneurs for Future, our partnership with the Alanus University of Art and Society,and our support for the Cycling Foundation Professorship at Frankfurt University ofApplied Sciences (Frankfurt UAS).
This is our first Responsibility Report. It documents where we are now, where wewant to be, what we have achieved and where we are still not quite yet.
We are on the move.
Sincerely,

Dr. Sandra Wolf

Heiko Müller

Markus Riese

7

Introduction

Vision 2025
E-Bikes are driving forward the transport revolution – E-Bikes

We can also see that growth has altered our relevance and so

are increasingly resulting in people abandoning car journeys, par-we wish to assume greater responsibility. It is not enough just to

ticularly on short inner-city trips. The E-Bike sector has therefore

produce a product that contributes to our customers’ positive,

been growing strongly for some years, and Riese & Müller hassustainable lifestyle. Sustainability, or in our words responsibility,

also recorded continuous growth for the last ten years. 2020 has

became another pillar of our strategy in 2019, and is firmly

further reinforced this trend. In recent years, we have grown fromenshrined within the company. We have set ourselves anotherbeing a small niche provider to become a large mid-sized company.

major goal in our strategy, which, above all, is associated with us

Growth is therefore a central pillar of our corporate strategy.

and our way of doing business. We have the vision of being the

But how can we combine growth and sustainability with good

most sustainable company in the E-Bike sector by 2025. We do

business practices?

not regard this vision as being competition-based, but rather aPart of our mission is to ensure that our products drive for-We have broken down our goal into sub-targets and initiallymore attractive places in which to live but also make people

start with ourselves – in 2020 we focussed our activities on “zerohealthier. We also regard our mission as being to actively support

waste” and “zero emissions” as the embodiment of our actions.

this with products that simplify cycling in everyday life situations.

8

call to change things together.

ward the transport revolution and thus make towns and cities

Next year, it will be about broadening our outlook, a task that

And we also wish to be part of the dialogue around designing

will become increasingly complex. It will focus on transparent

public spaces or lobbying for cycling. We therefore regard our-supply chains, sustainable digitalisation, and even greater duty ofselves as “creators of tomorrow’s mobility”.

care in our global operations.

“We will be themost sustainable
company in the
E-Bike sector by
2025.”
Riese & Müller vision9

Introduction

32
zero waste sub-projects in 2020

18

zero emissions sub-projects in 202027
people involved in the sub-projects
throughout the company in 202010

“Sustainable development is developmentthat meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.”
Definition of “Sustainable development”, United Nations World Commission on Environmentand Development, Brundtland Report, 1987

Review of 2020
“Sustainable development”, as defined for the first time in 1987

In 2020, we produced a comprehensive Climate Audit, whichby the World Commission for Environment and Development

highlights our strengths and weaknesses.

under the then chairman Gro Harlem Brundtland, is still consid-

We have also already achieved many things this year.

ered to be the core idea behind the sustainability discourse. FromWe run our company climate-neutrally. Among other things,

this comes a responsibility towards all people alive today to act

this includes our company buildings, logistics, business trips andand work in a way that protects and preserves the livelihoods offleet of vehicles. Our Campus boasts two photovoltaic systems,

future generations.

which generate 100 % of our electricity requirements. Our pack-

At Riese & Müller, we regard this responsibility as a mandate

aging is FSC®-certified so that we can ensure that our cardboard

for action. We would like to set a good example ourselves andcomes from responsibly managed forests. We have reduced ourmeet the challenges ahead of us with new ideas and concepts.

printed documents and further optimised our waste manage-

Since we were established in 1993, actively shaping future-proof

ment in administration and production. In the past year, we haveand sustainable mobility has been the driving force behind ouralso rethought many processes in logistics and have increasingly

innovative prowess and our aim to produce high-quality, durable

replaced pure air freight with alternative modes of transport,

and safe bikes.

including rail transport or a combination of air and sea freight.
In collaboration with many of our suppliers, we have modified, reduced or eliminated packaging and optimised inward
deliveries.
We guarantee organic and Demeter-labelled biodynamic
produce in our Corner Café, which is available to all employees.
The ReCup reusable system replaces disposable takeaway cups.
Environmental protection is on the agenda of many internal
training programmes, and our colleagues are the inspiration fora wide range of other measures.

11Responsibility Strategy

Westfjords, Iceland

12Responsibility Strategy
Intensive discussion of sustainability requires
precise planning, a strategic approach and a clear
approach to define priorities and achieve set goals.
We worked all this out in 2020.

13

Responsibility Strategy

Levels of Responsibility
Our corporate and sustainable operations are based on four levels of
responsibility.

Environmental level
Sustainable energy production, avoidance of CO2 emissions, resource
conservation and sensible waste management for a healthy interaction
between our company and the environment.

Economic level
Efficient use of high-quality materials, avoidance of unnecessary
waste and the use of natural alternatives for an environmentally-friendly
production process and sustainable economic efficiency.

Social level
Social commitment and promotion of community as a prerequisite forgood cooperation. Meaningful activities and new work models that put
people first.

Cultural level
Creative drive and ideas form an effective product and corporate culture
in harmony with nature.

We label these four levels with easy-to-understand icons to make ouractions visible.

14

Environmental level

Social level

Economic level

Cultural Level

15

Responsibility Strategy

2008

2019

Membership of the ZIV, the German

Support for the Cycling Foundation Professor-

Bicycle Industry Association, toship at Frankfurt University of Applied

underpin the importance of bikes andSciences (Frankfurt UAS).

the cycling sector.

2020
2012

Creation of a business unit to underpin

1993

The Load is Riese & Müller’s first Cargo

sharing and fleet operators.

Riese & Müller founded by Markus Riese

Bike. Today, it is one of the world’s

and Heiko Müller. The first product, themost successful cargo models and has

Membership of the German Association

Birdy folding bike, was developed for con-significantly helped to shape the cargo

for the Future of Cycling (BVZF) to improvevenient riding on the “last mile”. The Birdy

bike movement.

dialogue between market stakeholders andtriumphs in the world’s major cities – fromfurther expand communication with policy-

Europe to Japan and the USA.

makers.

2015
Cooperation with the Swiss sharing

1999

provider carvelo2go, a completely new

The Delite is one of the first street bikes tocargo bike rental concept for munici-

combine the benefits of a trekking bike

palities, towns and cities. With overand touring bike to create a perfect bike

330 Riese & Müller bikes in use, it isfor everyday use.

one of our most successful sharing
projects today.

16

Mobility Revolution
Since we were established in 1993, we have been committed tomaking everyday travel by bike easier, more convenient, comfortable and faster. For almost just as long, we have been committed to a transport revolution – less car traffic and more livableinner-city spaces. We are convinced that cycling is often the
better mode of transport. E-Bikes have opened up additional,
totally new possibilities – longer trips, greater payloads, relaxedriding. Our bikes enable our customers to switch, consciously or
unconsciously, to a considerably more sustainable lifestyle. They
are doing something for themselves and for the environment.
The momentum can no longer be stopped. Towns and cities
are rethinking their infrastructure and are hoping to achieve“less health-related stress and an improved quality of life” bymeans of more cycling (see Mobility Report, p. 18). Copenhagen,
Paris, Brussels, Bogotá, Portland, Sydney to name but a few.

17

Responsibility Strategy

Mobility
Trend Map
2021

Mobilität

Shared Streets

Multimodality

Urbanisation
Slow Speeds

Car Peak
Mobility Hubs

Mobile Cities

Cable Cars

Green Pressure

Carefree Cities
Road Diet
Bike BoomCar Ownership Shift

Quality of Life

Mobility Seeker
Active Lifestyles

Delievery Bots

Individualisation
Mobile Living

All-inclusive Mobility

Achtsame Mobilität

Urban Air Mobility

Internet of Things
Driverless

Transformative Parking

Connectivity
Car Sharing
Micromobility

Surge Pricing Collaboration

Holistic Navigation

Autonomous Infrastructure

Seamless Mobility

The Trend Map shows that lots is happening in the mobility

We have equipped our bikes with many safety features, such as

sector. In the 21st century, mobility no longer means as muchmain beams and an ABS brake system.

road as possible for as many cars as possible. It is becoming a

Our integrated RX Chip also creates the basis for networking

diverse co-existence of public transport, individual transport inbikes in future. Already today, the RX Chip enables us to provide

cars, on E-bikes, bikes or on foot. The trend is moving away fromanti-theft protection and a bike retrieval service in our Connect-owning a status symbol towards a sharing community where

Care service package.

supply needs to be widely available and reliable. A challenge forurban and rural areas.
Riese & Müller is actively involved in the transport revolution.
Apart from our main objective of producing safe, durable andWe are actively involved in various industry associations andnon-profit organisations. We are expanding our sharing partnerships and supporting the Cycling Foundation Professorship at
Frankfurt University of Applied Science.

state-of-the-art bikes, we are also addressing political and social
challenges. Our bikes have been developed with the intention of
replacing cars.

Listen to the podcast
with Dr. Stefan Carsten on Podigee.
r-m-unplugged.podigee.io

18

Neo-ecology
Post-carbon Society
E-Mobility
Slow Culture

Noise Reduction
Healthy Mobilty

Silver Society

HealthUniversal Design
Preventive Health

Vision Zero
Inclusive Mobility

Source: Mobility Report 2021, Zukunftsinstitut (Future Institute) (Publ.) , page 14

CommuteSilver Drivers

Germophobia
Twalking
Cars

Mobility Seeker
Women‘s Anxiety

Mobility is evolving from being movementin space to becoming a mobile experience.

SafetyMobility Seekers are perfecting this new
game of mobility by navigating flexibly, on
the go and pragmatically through the cities ofthis world. They are young, urban and freeof mobile conventions. They do not need theirown car, but also do not shy away from car
mobility, instead exploiting the almost limitless possibilities available to them. And towns
and cities are reacting – with new services
and new spaces. The coronavirus crisis has

Four bike trends in the Mobility Report

only had a limited impact on Mobility Seekers,

by Dr. Stefan Carsten, Futurologist

as they are flexible and open to all alternativemodes of transport offered to them.

Road Diet

All-inclusive Mobility

Delivery Bots

Road Diet marks a departure from the theCommuters and business travellers want

The last-mile delivery of goods and food has

car-city model and the arrival of urban

one-shop mobility, and mobility providers are

been seen in a different light by the corona-quality of life for the benefit of all. Cities arestarting to tailor their services to this. Within

virus pandemic. New health and hygiene

transforming car-centred roads and car parks

the context of all-inclusive mobility, the actual

requirements are accelerating a trend that

into public mobility spaces. Roads and parking

mobility products – whether cars, bikes orwill revolutionise the entire logistics chain.

spaces for cars are being reduced, cycle paths

public transport – are connected within in a

Bots will populate our roads and pavements

and pavements are being extended and pri-seamless mobility chain, with the mobility

in future to make parcel deliveries highly effi-

oritised along with public transport. This trend

services rather than the products becoming

cient and also extremely hygienic. The trend

has been greatly accelerated by the corona-the focus. The services are combined digitallyis fundamentally changing shopping and com-virus pandemic.

in an app, as well as outside in the physicalmerce – we will no longer have the interper-

space. The objective: to pick up people pre-sonal contact we have been used to withcisely wherever their mobility starts anddeliveries.

finishes.

19

Responsibility Strategy

LondonParis

Barcelona

Modal filters: Posts and bollards

The 15-minute city: Thanks to a

Superblocks: Traffic-calmed Residential

filter traffic, so that in many places

future-centric mobility mix, every part

Oases. The permissible speed for vehicles

they can only be passed on footof the city should be able to be reached

here is walking pace. [1]or by bike. [2]within a quarter of an hour. [3]Ottawa2,500-km long network of cycle
paths: The Canadian capital is planning to quadruple its current networkof over 600 kilometres of cycle paths
over the next ten years. [8]Portland
Vision 2030: Portland is aiming for cyclists to make up
25 % of urban traffic. [9]Cycling Cities
We are convinced that individual mobility and urban infrastructure
can fit together. Cities around the world are currently developing into
cycling cities. In these cities, cycling-friendly policies, with the aim of
improving the cycling infrastructure, come together with people who
are open to using bikes as everyday modes of transport and tochanging their own habits and their cities. This goes hand in handwith committed dealers who are introducing this perspective to theirregion. Many of them are Riese & Müller dealers and thus ambassadors for global social change.

Boulder, Colorado
The United States’ most bike-friendly city. [10]The grey areas represent the countries in which Riese & Müller is represented
by a total of 1,000 dealers.
20

Oslo

Copenhagen

Freiburg

Brussels

4-seasons cycling city: Despite its

Bike-Life benchmark: The

30 km/h speed limit city-wide:

Ad-hoc transport revolution:

hilly topography and snowy winterCopenhagenize Index is used toFreiburg wants to be the first

20 km/h speed limit in cen-months, Oslo is on its way toassess the bicycle-friendliness ofGerman municipality to enforce

tral Brussels. Pedestrians

becoming a cycling city.

urban infrastructures for cycling

a 30 km/h speed limit throughout

and cyclists have priority. [4]It relies on highly available mobility

worldwide. Copenhagen has held

the entire urban area. To do so,

services and a car-free city centre.

top place in the index for many

the city requires special permis-

The dismantling of over 1,000 car

years. [6]sion from the Federal Transportparking spaces in favour of pedes-

Minister due to the ruling deviating

trians and cycle traffic is just one

from the statutory speed limit inexample of this. [5]towns of 50 km/h. [7]SydneyVision 2056: Long-term
strategy to restructure

Bogotá

Windhoek

Pop-up bike lanes: The lightning-fast reor-

E-Bikes 4 Windhoek: In partnership with aganisation of urban traffic areas spread

local bank, micro-credits are offered toaround the world in the spring of 2020.

commuters to encourage them to switch

Cars have already been banned on Sun-

to E-Bikes powered by solar energy. [12]the city’s infrastructure.
Clear hierarchy of land use:pedestrians first. [13]days and public holidays for the past 45
years. [11]21Responsibility Strategy

Riese & Müller Ambassadors
These are the people who join us in taking our vision out into the world, and who form a
global network of ideas, commitment and attitude around the globe. They are more than just
local dealers who sell our products. They are people who take the idea and enthusiasm abouta mobility revolution into their town or city, into their country and embody the idea of living
sustainably just like we do. Introducing just a few of them:“I believe thateverything canbe different.”
Andrea Groll

Lyon, Frankreich
Julien Barrault, Les Vélos de Fratello
E-Bike and Cargo-Bikes are a personal journey for me. It started in2014 when I decided to let my car in the garage and ride an E-Bike toRhine-Main Metropolitan Region,
Groß-Gerau, Germany
Andrea Groll, Fahrrad Fuchs

go to work. When I think about it, the words to describe E-Bikes are:Simple, easy, mind-free. Over the last decades, people got lost in

I believe that everything can be different. I dream of an (urban)

a car world, making things always more complicated and complex:

infrastructure made for people and not for cars. I have two adultbigger roads, huge parking lot, infinite traffic jam. Now with E-Bike,daughters and want to do something to help their children grow up

people realize we got stuck at this point for no reason, and how

in a world worth living in. Here in the Rhine-Main metropolitan

it could be easily solve with E-Bikes and it is the snowbowl effect:

region, the car-centred transport system is collapsing. More andE-Bikes do good to people and do good to the planet, but we havemore commuters and routine travellers are therefore switching toto be careful, because electric mobility is a sensitive subject whenbikes and pedelecs.

you want to save the world. That’s where Riese & Müller kicks ass.

This means that more and more kilometres are also being

To be a real improvement for the planet, E-Bikes and Cargo-Bikes

travelled by bike all year round. Many people are starting to regard

have to be build in the most ethical way, it should have the smallest

bikes or pedelecs as indispensable modes of transport.

environmental impact during its manufacturing process. It should
last long, it has to be reliable, reparable and never be a part of ashort term trend. I choose Riese & Müller because they check all theboxes.

22

Dublin, Irland

London, United Kindgom

Olivier Vander Elst, GreenAer

Ben Jaconelli und Dan Parsons, Fully Charged

At GreenAer we started 12 years ago on a journey to change thePaving the way in environmentally-friendly transport solutions,way people think about personal transport in Ireland and offer real

Fully Charged has been offering electric cargo bike solutions fromalternatives to cars who dominated our cities. Our mission is to

the world’s leading manufacturers here in the UK since 2014. City

change the transport scene by disrupting the old narrative about

centres have begun to close down to larger, polluting vehicles,

cars/vans and we do so by offering desirable and practical alter-with rising‚ congestion charges‘ and widening ‘low emission zones’

natives instead. This was the reason why from an early stage

aiming to reduce traffic and emissions. 2020 has seen a perfect

we focused exclusively on E-Bikes and Cargo-Bikes and remain tostorm for the growth of E-Bikes and Cargo-Bikes in the UK, withthis day the only exclusive specialists in Ireland. We feel totally

people actively choosing electric bikes as an alternative to publicaligned with Riese & Müller when it comes to their sustainability

transport and more polluting vehicles, resulting in a sharp rise invalue proposition and believe that there is a need for a new totalinterest and sales.

ecosystem of related solutions required.

“Our customers are
our agents of changeon the streets.”
Chris Nolte

San Francisco, USA
Karen Wiener and Brett Thurber, The New Wheel
In the San Francisco Bay Area cycling is experiencing a surge in

Brooklyn and Long Beach, USA
Chris Nolte, Propel Bikes

popularity recently, but it is part of a long term trend that has beendeveloping for some time. Civic leaders understand more and more

New York and Los Angeles have been experiencing tremendousthat many of our modern urban problems of emissions, congestion,changes in the mobility space over the past several years and I am

and quality of life can be addressed through widespread adoption

extremely grateful to be part of that movement. New York has beenof electric bicycles. New infrastructure is being built to make cyclists

particularly committed to growth in the space of micro-mobility overfeel safe. What is exciting for us is being involved in the creation of

the past year with a further commitment to more infrastructure anda cycling constituency that is not dependent on cars. We see thisnew legislation to develop a clear place for these new forms of

constituency as the starting point for making real political changetransportation to exist. Since the early days of Propel, I have had

towards carbon-neutrality and sustainability.

many ideas and dreams of what the future of cities would look likeand it’s amazing to see much of this coming to life today. We arehave amazing business partners to work to share and help realize
this vision. Riese & Müller and Bosch have been among the mostimportant, and most importantly our customers who are the agentsof change out on the streets and introducing these new tools to“We are involvedin the creation of a cycling
constituency.”

help improve our societies.

Karen Wiener
23

Responsibility Strategy

Sustainability Revolution
We are pleased to be able to produce a product that encourages
and inspires people to live a more sustainable lifestyle. As a company, and above all as a rapidly growing company, we regard ourselves as having a responsibility to work in an environmentally-friendly and human rights-orientated manner. We are therefore
asking and addressing the urgent questions of our time. We arecommitted to climate and environmental protection and to what itmeans to be human. We recognise the fact that there are still gaps
and that we face a relatively long process in a global supply chain.
But we also know that we can make a difference and want tomake the most of this energy.

We work with:

24

1993

2019

2019

Establishment of Riese & Müller. Everyday

Under the banner of “Responsibility”,

First supplier day with a focus on

mobility by bicycle was to be made possible

the issue of sustainability is firmly“sustainability”.

with durable and high-quality products.

anchored in the corporate strategy.

2020

Working with a resource-conserving
approach as part of the corporate culture

2019

Focus on the goals of “zero waste” andand with the values of Markus Riese andMove into the new company building“zero emissions”.

Heiko Müller.

that incorporates many aspects that
contribute to a responsible approachto the environment.

2017
Planning of the company’s first own

Formulation of a 2025 responsibility“sustainably built and operated” building.

vision.

Changeover to Vaude / Green Shape Labelworkwear.

25

Responsibility Strategy

Relevant SDGs

26

Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs are the continuation of the United Nations Millennium goals

We have selected ten SDGs that reflect our four levels of

and were adopted in 2016.

responsibility – ecology, economy, social and culture. They

With a total of 17 ecological, economic and social goals,
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) present a roadmap forserve as guidelines and enable us to assess whether ourlevels correspond to global goals.

sustainable development up to 2030. They form the basis for a

In our various roles – as a company with more thancommon and international understanding of a responsible future

550 employees, as a premium E-Bike manufacturer and as a

and also provide direction.

visionary for innovative mobility – our daily actions contributeto the Sustainable Development Goals set out below. [14]SDG 4 Quality Education

SDG 8 Decent Work andSDG 12 Responsible Consumption and

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality

Economic Growth

Production Patterns

education and promote lifelong learning

Promote sustainable, inclusive and sustain-

Ensure sustainable consumption andopportunities for all.

able economic growth, productive fullproduction patterns.

employment and decent work for all.
SDG 5 Gender Equality

SDG 13 Climate Action

Achieve gender equality and empower

SDG 9 Industry, Innovations andTake urgent action to combat climate change

all women and girls.

Infrastructure

and its impacts.

Build resilient infrastructure, promote
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

inclusive and sustainable industrialisation

SDG 17 Partnerships to Achieve

Ensure access to affordable, reliable,

and foster innovation.

Goals

sustainable and modern energy for all.

Strengthen the means of implementation
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

and revitalise the global partnership for

Reduce inequality within and among

sustainable development.

countries.
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive,
safe, resilient and sustainable.

27

Responsibility Strategy“Sustainability requires professional
analysis and control.”Alexander Eilhauer, Head of Purchasing & Supply Chain Management

Materiality Analysis
A materiality matrix describes the relevance fordifferent aspects of responsibility, firstly from theperspective of the stakeholders and secondly fromthe perspective of the company. This allows us
and everyone involved to understand how
Riese & Müller’s business activities affect nonmonetary aspects.
We have identified our own challenges andpriorities, against the background of this methodology. This results in an understanding of the company’s current status in relation to sustainability
and provides a good overview of the areas inwhich change is needed. [15]28unimportant / irrelevant0

Climate protection

very important / very relevant
123

Riese & Müller
External stakeholders

Sustainable energy generation

Emission balancing

Responsible waste management

Reduction of packaging materials

Innovative products

Product quality

Product service life

Efficient supply and delivery

Economic successStandards in the supply chain

Lasting business relationships

Social involvement

Cycling infrastructure for employees

Diversity and equal opportunities

Personnel development

Employee health

Health and safety at work

Digitalisation of the working environment

29

Responsibility Strategy

Interdisciplinary and agile Responsibility Team30

Responsibility TeamThe systematic and professional handling ofsustainability issues requires a lot of resources anddiverse competencies within the company.
Nonetheless, we have deliberately opted not to
set up a “Sustainability Management” or “CSR”
department, instead opting for an interdisciplinary
and agile team.
The core of the team is formed by colleagues fromthe Supply Chain Management and Communications
departments and the company management. They
are complemented by project-based competences fromsubject-specific departments, including Logistics, Internationalisation, People & Culture etc. However, all employees
are welcome to get involved – whether in workshops
or with suggestions and ideas for improving ourresource-conserving behaviour. What we have learnt:
Sustainability can be anchored throughout the company
through active participation and proactive communication
via our NEXT intranet, encouraging everyone to maketheir personal contribution.

31

Site

Thorsmörk, Iceland32

Campus
The Riese & Müller site in Mühltal near
Darmstadt enables everyone to tangibly
experience the brand’s innovative prowess.
We have here the freedom to rethink things
anew and the ideal conditions for sustainablebusiness in harmony with nature. We produce
exclusively at this site.
After a construction period of less than
one and a half years and a total investmentof around €37 million, the Riese & Müller
Campus was completed and commissioned asplanned in January 2019. With a total area of
60,000 m2, it provides plenty of space for all
the company’s departments, at the sametime offering space for expansion.

33

Site

Integrated employment:
We offer people from the workshops forthe disabled run by the Nieder-Ramstadt
Christian social welfare organisation
jobs in different departments of thecompany.

Local partners: The products sold in the

Practising Responsibility

company’s own Corner Café predominantly come from the immediate surrounding area. We procure our milk fromThe Campus consists of a production, storage and administration

the Sonnenhof Farm, an organic farmbuilding, a high-bay warehouse building and three other plots

directly adjacent to the Campus, which isof land with space for expansion and agricultural land. The pro-run by people with disabilities.

duction area extends to over 6,000 m2 and the warehouse area
measures over 9,000 m2. Around 200 high-quality, ergonomic

Organic and Demeter-labelled biodynamic

office workplaces have been set up for the Administration

quality in the Corner Café: We solely sell

department within the 2,000 m2 office space.

organic or Demeter-labelled biodynamic
quality produce in our Corner Café.

Reusable cup deposit system:
We use the RECUP reusable cup deposit
system, avoiding waste generated bysingle-use coffee cups.

Climate-neutral Campus: We have been
100 % climate-neutral on our Campus in
Mühltal since the start of this financial
year.

34

Water filter system: Supply of drinking
water using a BRITA water filter systemand our own reusable bottles.
Open-plan working environment:
Spaces into which employees canretreat and open-plan areas produce

Photovoltaic systems:

space for peace and quiet. Our work-

Two photovoltaic systems have beenplaces are designed from a sustainability
and ergonomic perspective.

E-charging stations:installed on the roof of the main building
Green space on the roof for wild bees

and the high-bay warehouse, which

The roof of the production building istogether generate 100 % of our electricity

planted, providing wild bees with a richrequirements.

supply of nectar and pollen.

There are charging facilities
for electric cars in front of ourmain building.

Fully equipped bicycle storage facilities:

Shower and changing facilities:

Offers to promote health among

A covered, lit and monitored bicycle

There are showers and changing rooms

employees:

storage facility with charging facilities

on the ground floor of the main building

Fitness offers and E-Bike sharing concepts

provides ample space for ourfor employees who come on foot or byencourage employees to exercise more.

employees’ bicycles and E-Bikes.

bike or do sport during their breaks.

35

Site

Handling resources
The Riese & Müller Campus is our corporate centre and therefore

We introduced the RECUP reusable cup deposit system in ouran important and integral part of our Responsibility Strategy. We

Corner Café and at various coffee points around the building tohave taken direct control of how we handle our resources here.

reduce excess waste generated by single-use coffee cups. This

Just moving into the new company building enabled us to makeenables employees to enjoy a hot drink in an environmentaly-

many specific measures for greater sustainability and a mindful

friendly manner, particularly in Production, where glass andapproach nature.

porcelain are banned for safety reasons. The RECUP cups, which

The buildings have been constructed to the latest standards

are 100 % Made in Germany, are food-safe, free of BPA andand have higher energy efficiency than is required by law.

pollutants, and can be reused up to 1,000 times.

The energy requirement at the Campus is met fully CO2-neutrally.

Using the RECUP deposit system means that we are working to

Two photovoltaic systems have been installed on the roof of

combat resource wastage and raising awareness of a sustainable

the main building and the high-bay warehouse, which generate

lifestyle amongst all employees. In total, we save around 122,000

100 % of our electricity requirements. Excess electricity is fed

disposable cups++ per year with the reusable deposit system. [16]into the grid. We use climate-neutral natural gas for heating.
We do not use an air conditioning system to air condition the

Examples of the responsible handling of resources are to
be found throughout the company. The introduction of a newbuilding, and instead use passive cooling measures, including

tensioning-belt system in the high-bay warehouse has reduced

intelligent building design and a planted roof.

plastic waste by 95 %. All internal and external events at

A core element is our resource-conserving supply of drinking

Riese & Müller aim to be waste-free. We have reviewed andwater to all employees. This uses a BRITA water filter system andoptimised our internal company waste concept to ensure that

our own glass or plastic reusable bottles. All employees can top

any waste that cannot be avoided is used to the best possible

up their reusable bottle with free water from numerous filling

effect. We have thus further reduced the amount of residual

stations around the building. This avoids the transport of somewaste in production and administration.

244,000 bottles each year.

Colleagues regularly collect waste in the surrounding area tomake a contribution to life in the community of Mühltal.

0.75-litre bottles. The calculation is based on a drinking water consumption of 1.5 litres per employee per working day with around 530 employeeson the site over an average of 230 working days a year.
+36

The calculation is based on a coffee consumption of one takeaway cupof coffee per employee per working day with around 530 employees on
the site over an average of 230 working days a year.
++

The reusable cup
deposit system enables us
to save around 122,000
single-use cups each year.

37

Site

200

100

employees are currently using a
JobRad employee bicycle

percent of our electricity requirement
is self-generated.

6

31
200
parking spaces with charging
facility for electric cars

percent of employees come to workby bike every day.

covered, lit and monitored bicycle parking spaces
with charging option

38

Mobility Revolution
on the Campus
We have prepared a comprehensive Mobility Concept which wasawarded the “Exceptionally mobile” certificate following an audit
by the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce in July 2020
to assist our employees as best as possible to travel to work in a
climate-neutral manner.
This involves the strong promotion of E-Bikes and Cargo Bikes,
JobRad bicycle leasing, a covered, lit and supervised bicycle
storage facility with charging option, and the installation of
showers, changing rooms and a drying room for cycle clothing.
We also utilise hybrid and electric cars in our fleet and offer
parking spaces with electric charging facilities for employees
and visitors.
We have also set up a free mobility advice service forinterested employees, which aims to work out ways of making
individual mobility more sustainable.

39

PeopleTorridon, Scotland

40

PeopleRiese & Müller was born out of friendship,
mutual respect and trust – and not least out ofa love of cycling. These are values that connect
Markus Riese, Heiko Müller and Sandra Wolf.
All three are committed to ensuring that thesevalues are given the necessary space in a fastgrowing company and are embraced within theworkforce, because business thrives on thepeople who work there every day.
With their different personalities, origins andorientation, their knowledge, skills and experiences, the workforce should encourage eachother on a daily basisand support each other inindividual and professional development.

41

People“I contribute to a good climate
at Riese & Müller. I do notdiscriminate against anyone on
the basis of their disability,
skin colour, religion, gender,
appearance, sexual identity etc.,
through words or actions or
behind-the-scenes throughtexts, slogans, labelling etc.
I resolve conflicts without
recourse to violence. I am
friendly and respectful.”
Extract from the Workplace Code of Conduct

42

People at Riese & Müller
The fact that people are a priority at Riese & Müller is also reflected in thename of the “People & Culture” department, which is responsible foreverything relating to people and culture. Apart from traditional personnel
issues such as working hours, salaries, benefits and holidays, the main
focus is on the personal and professional development of employees –with room also for private matters.
The Riese & Müller Workplace Code of Conduct provides a common basic
understanding of what is expected. It provides guidelines about assuming
responsibility for one’s own actions.
The Code of Conduct provides a simple, clear basis for cooperation and also
sets out guidelines for good collaboration, non-discrimination and gender
equity.
Our conduct in our relationships with other people is based on the following
guidelines:• United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights [17]• Principles of theUnited Nations Global Compact (UNGC) [18]43People550
employees

43
nationalities

14%

women in management positions

44

38
average age in years

29

%

15

female quota

trainees / work placement students

45

PeopleGood Working Conditions –Personal Development – Benefits
VAUDE workwear

Individual promotion of employees• Predominantly VAUDE workwear with the Green Shape Label• Positions allocated on the basis of qualification and suitability

for environmentally-friendly products made from sustainable
materials, manufactured under fair working conditions, andcomfortable to wear.

– regardless of gender, origin, culture, age or skin colour.
• Management positions are often filled by employees, including
many women, who have developed professionally and personally within the company through special training programmes.
• Regular (annual) appraisals and interim appraisals for every

Organic or Demeter-labelled biodynamic quality
in the Corner Café
• We sell only organic or Demeter-labelled biodynamic quality
produce in our Corner Café.
• We procure our milk from the Sonnenhof Farm, an organic farm
nearby, which is run by people with disabilities.

employee ensure a close dialogue between managers,
employees and People & Culture.
• Individual, needs-orientated training programme for personal
development.
• Inter-team internal creative workshops, e.g. breakfast workshops, book club or individual topics.
• German language courses for employees with a different first
language.

Promotion of community as a prerequisite
for mutual respect• Mutual respect and an assumption of responsibility are anatural part of the corporate culture.
• The focus is on people – this is also the reason behind
our Human Resources department being known as“People & Culture”.
• Creation of the position of “Teamer Integration” as point ofcontact and mediator via the on-boarding phase and theperson who conveys the unique Riese & Müller culture.

46

“Our growth is based on theprinciple: good and healthy forthe people we work with.”
Dr. Sandra Wolf, CEOexternal
Cooperation with our
suppliers

Internal

Helpline for employees
and their families

Workplace
Support for the

Code of Conduct

Supply Chain
Legislation
initiative

Teamer Integration
Visual audits
at our suppliers’
premises.
Orientation by the guiding
principles of human rights,
including the United National
Global Compact (UNGC)

47

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Groevdalsbakken, Norway48

2020: Zero Waste
and Zero Emission
This year, we have been very focused on our own
actions. On what we can actively change and takecontrol of. Our activities have focussed on waste
avoidance and emission reduction – two key
issues where there is massive scope for action.

49

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Zero Waste
The aim of “zero waste” is to produce less waste and handle
raw materials with care. We have now achieved a number of minor
and major successes and will continue to work in future on further
reducing our volume of waste.

50Facts and figures in the 2019 / 2020 business year

100 % FSC®-certified packaging –our cardboard comes from responsibly
managed forests
Inspection of the packaging of our
25 largest suppliers – the analysis resulted
in around 32 zero waste projects
Over 70,000 m² packaging material savedon frame deliveries
100 % revised waste management system
in Production, Logistics and Administration –for clearly sorted waste

To learn more about our work this year
listen our podcast on Podigee.
r-m-unplugged.podigee.io51

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Waste Management
We achieve a high recycling rate mainly

Furthermore, we are in close contact with ourthrough carefully sorted waste. Even though

local waste management company and have

we are constantly working to avoid the gen-our waste checked regularly. This helps us toeration of waste from the very outset throughunderstand changes and to put in place new

new concepts and ideas, our business pro-

waste management measures to enable us

cesses still generate a lot of waste material

to better sort our waste and further reduce it.

every day: the packaging boxes in which

The following figure shows the current

goods are delivered, polythene bags in which

volume of waste at our site in Mühltal nearsmall components are packed and waste

Darmstadt. Together with all employees

generated in our café and offices.

and our waste management company, weThis is why we have completely revised

wish to continue working to achieve a higher

and rethought the waste management system

recycling rate and reduce the proportion of

in Production together with our employees.

plastic waste.

All colleagues have been trained on the newmeasures and are now able to sort waste
even more easily. We have also further optimised the waste management system in our
offices.

Zero measurement: Waste volume in the 2019 / 2020 business year

Film

Paper

23.12 t311.12 t

Wood
39.86 tMixed waste
42.70 tAluminium
6.47 tMixed scrap
7.29 t52

“Our future way of thinking is not inminimising our environmental footprint”
Cradle to Cradle Pioneer Prof. Dr. Braungart

FSC®-certified packaging material

Packaging cycle
We are working to keep as much packaging
as possible in circulation and re-use it for

Digitalisation of
invoices and freight
documents

We have been using only FSC®-certified

other purposes to minimise the environmental

cardboard boxes for our E-Bike boxes, small

impact of the packaging material used. For

After significantly reducing the volume ofcomponents boxes and accessory packs

instance, when despatching small components

paper used in air and sea fright to overseas

since 2020 to minimise the environmental

and accessories, we do not buy material forand non-EU countries, we are now also dis-

impact of the packaging material we use.

padding but instead use material collectedpensing with printed delivery notes andwhen goods are unpacked in Incoming Goods.

invoices for the delivery of E-Bikes and Cargo

The FSC® label stands for the “Forest
Stewardship Council” non-governmental

A packaging padding machine is usedorganisation and proves that the machinedwhen packing small components to enable us

wood comes from forests that are managed

to dispense even more with plastic. It pro-required for customs clearance, we haveaccording to strict ecological and social

cesses used cardboard to form padding

managed to reduce them as much as possible

principles.

material, which is then used to cushion thein cooperation with our logistics partners.

Our delivery note pouches have beensmall components. We always try to findBikes by land freight within the EU.
Where original documents continue to be

Our dealers can still access their docu-

converted from plastic to FSC®-certified paper

creative solutions to reuse existing packaging

ments digitally via the my Riese & Müller

and can therefore be recycled together withmaterial. For example, a zipper bag which we

dealer platform.

the box. [19]previously purchased and used as a protec-

In future, we will save at least two sheets

tive cover to despatch our E-Bikedisplays, hasof paper per packaged bicycle, which equates

been replaced with the outer packaging of ato savings of over 1 tonne of paper eachcomponent supplied to us.

season. We only use 100 % recycled paper.

This means that we are giving the packaging a second life. These recycling measuresalone have been able to save over 3,000 m2of plastic packaging.

53

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Support for battery returnsystems in Germany and in
our export countries [20]183,000 €contribution (including GRS Joint

97.2 %
sales volume

54

“Batteries have to be returned at theend of their lives to prevent harm to
the environment – worldwide. That’s
important to us.”Catrin Vollhardt, International Strategy

Return Systems for
Used Batteries
The motor and its battery are the beating

In Germany, we are involved with the GRS

heart of an E-Bike. After use, at the end of its

Foundation (Joint Battery Return System),battery life, it needs to be returned to a recy-

which guarantees the systematic and nation-cling system to prevent it from harming thewide return of used batteries. Out of ourenvironment.

40 export countries, we also support return

In export countries where return systems

systems in 23 countries, sometimes volun-

exist, they are supported as far as possible

tarily, together making up 97.2 % of our sales

by Riese & Müller. Each system represents anvolume.

individual solution for the standardised andIn the past financial year, we have invested

nationwide return of used batteries. Thesearound €183,000 in total battery returns. We

nationwide systems are the only way ofalso proactively inform our dealers about

ensuring the comprehensive collection of

the system in their respective countries andused batteries, increasing the recycling quota

assist them in meeting the requirements.

of batteries. Batteries are either returned
to dealers, municipalities or commercial businesses.

55

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Zero Emissions
We also set ourselves the objective of reducing our CO₂ emissions(“zero emissions”) in 2020, as part of our stated aim of becoming themost sustainable company in the E-Bike sector. As with our waste
management, we have also examined our internal production processes
and external supply chains in detail, identified the current status of ouremissions and evaluated potential savings.
On this basis, together with our employees and suppliers, we put inplace key prerequisites last year and initiated projects to avoid andreduce our CO₂ emissions. We will continue to systematically pursue andexpand them in the coming years.

56Facts and figures in the 2019 / 2020 business year

100 % climate-neutral site in Mühltal
31 % of employees come to work by bike every day
100 % climate-neutral logistics
CO₂savings compared to pure air freight throughalternative modes of transport:• Over 50 % by sea & air transport• 90 % by rail
3,330.69 tonnes of Co₂e emissions by business
operations – fully compensated for by investment
in a climate protection project ++Emissions offsetting by investment in a climate protection project with myclimate. Riese & Müller has offset greenhouse gas emissions of all

three scopes by investing in a climate protection project run by the myclimate Foundation. The climate protection project is certified (Gold Standard
certification by the Gold Standard Foundation non-profit organisation). It contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as making acontribution to sustainable development in local regions in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

57

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Zero measurement: Climate Audit – Corporate Carbon Footprint
Scope 1: 179.70 t CO2e
Direct emissions from the burning offossil fuels on site and by our company
Scope 1

fleet of vehicles, as well as process
emissions and evaporations.
Scope 2: 168.40 t CO2e
Indirect emissions from the generation

Scope 2of electricity, heat or steam bought in.
Scope 3: 3,578.36 t CO2e
Other indirect embedded emissions
from the value chain.
Emissions saved: -595.77 t CO2e+

Through the use of a photovoltaic
system and the purchase of green
electricity and gas.
Gross emissions: 3,926.46 t CO2e+

Nett emissions: 3,330.69 t CO2e+

Scope 3

Savings+

Gross emissions are all emissions reported in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG). The GHG is an international standard for accounting for a company’s

greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity and gas consumption is also included in gross emissions. Riese & Müller buys certified green electricity and green gas. We also
feed the excess electricity from our photovoltaic system into the national power grid when we generate too much electricity in good weather, avoiding third-party
greenhouse gases as well.
By purchasing certified green electricity and green gas and feeding in our photovoltaic electricity, we are able to deduct the emissions saved from our gross emissions
to arrive at our so-called net emissions – the emissions that we actually emitted in the 2019 / 2020 business year (calculated by KlimAktiv gGmbH).

58

Distribution of CO2e emissions by category
We will be unable to avoid all emissions even if

Scope 1: Direct emissions (t CO2e) 179,70

we continue to work to optimise our business

Stationary combustion94.28

processes to avoid CO₂ emissions. The indi-

Mobile combustion85.42

vidual components of our bikes, as well as thefinished product, need to be delivered logistically and sometimes need to travel long distances to reach their destination. We therefore

Scope 2: Indirect emissions from energy provided (t CO2e) 168.40
Scopepurchased
From
2: IndirekteandEmissionen
consumedaus
electricity
bereitgestellter Energie (Verteilung nach Kategorien)

168.40offset emissions that are currently unavoidable
by investing in a climate protection project. Oursite and logistics are fully CO2-neutral.
This includes our buildings, business trips,

Scope 3: Weitere indirekte  Emissionen (t CO2e)3,578.36

Fuel and energy-related emissions (not included in Scope 1 and 2 )230.38

employees’ travel to work, our fleet, the cli-

Transport and distribution (upstream)

2,452.16

matic effects of our waste on site and our

Waste27.22

entire delivery logistics systems.

Business travel (including greenhouse gas effect of air travel of 27.07 t Co2e)51.16
Employee commuting817.44

Climate Audit – Corporate Carbon Footprint
We have produced a Climate Audit, also known as the “Corporate

Producing a Climate Audit has enabled us to precisely identify our

Carbon Footprint” (CCF), in conjunction with the KlimAktiv climate

potential for reducing emissions. We proceed according to theprotection consultancy as the basis for all our emission-related

principle of “Avoid – Reduce – Compensate” when planning andmeasures. The CCF considers all seven greenhouse gases.

implementing the individual measures.

Apart from carbon dioxide (CO₂), they include methane, nitrous

Our primary goal is always avoidance. This means, in concreteoxide and hydrofluorocarbons. These different greenhouse gases

terms, that if possible, we want to prevent emissions from occur-are converted into CO₂ equivalents+, abbreviated to Co₂e, to com-ring at all – whether at our site, in our employees’ commuting

pare their impact on the climate.

behaviour or in logistics. We are working to reduce emissions as

Emissions are categorised into three groups, so-called“Scopes”.
Scope 1 includes all direct emissions, Scope 2 includes all indi-much as possible when they cannot be avoided completely. To dothis, we need to rethink our actions, find new solutions andencourage others to work with us to find new ways. This is notrect emissions from energy and Scope 3 includes all other indirect

always easy in everyday life, because often processes are

emissions from the value chain, including the company’s entire

well-established and habits are not easy to break. However, in

logistics system.

the knowledge that even small changes can have a big impact,
we do not wish to stop here, but rather continuously set ourselves new challenges to further improve our CO₂ footprint.

+

CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e) indicate the different climate gases and their impact on the environment and climate. They are given in relation to the same

volume of pure CO₂ over a defined period of generally 100 years. According to the Kyoto Protocol, there are several greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide(CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), as well as the fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gases) – hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) containing hydrogen,perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆). The United Nations has defined this index to enable the different greenhouse gas emissions
to be compared. It is indicated by the small “e” behind the formula for carbon dioxide: CO₂e.

59

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Commuting Behaviourof Riese & Müller Employees
We actively encourage our employees to cycle and have createdthe best possible framework condition for this through advice andfinancing offers, as well asthe necessary infrastructure on the Campus
so that they can ride their bikes to work in a climate-neutral manner.
Out of our 550 employees, around 35 % use their bike for their daily
commute to work in summer and around 28 % in winter (an averageof 31 % per year). We are therefore well above the average – according
to the General German Cycling Club (ADFC), only about 10 % of theworking population in Germany rides to work by bike. We also have
our own sharing scheme for employees on our Campus. The scheme
enables employees to simply hire Cargo Bikes and E-Bikes free ofcharge. [21]Employee commuting [21]Distance (kilometre/year +)Total

2,776,100

MIV

2,102,430

ÖPNV

165,686

Fahrrad479,866

Fußgänger

28,118Emissionen (t CO2e)
Scope 3: Employee commuting+Distance (kilometres) with an average of 500 employees and 230 working days in the2019 / 2020 business year

60

817.44

Commuting Behaviour of Riese & Müller Employees [21]31 %Bike, E-Bike, Cargo Bike

7%
Local public transport

2.5 %Pedestrian
3.5 %Passenger in motorised
individual transport

56 %Motorised individual transport61

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

177 suppliers

Global Suppliers
Our long-term goal is to achieve shorter logistics distances. At thesame time, we rely on long-term supplier relationships with our
suppliers and are seeking joint solutions for alternative transportroutes with them. Our evaluation criteria focuses on close andtrusting cooperation as well as excellent quality products andreliability.

62Origin of articles by continent (by purchase value in the 2019 / 2020 financial year)

EuropeAmerica
Australia
AfricaAsia

63

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Bosch eBike Systems is one of the partners
that is embarking on this journey with us tocreate a more sustainable industry. Boschmotors are fitted to all our Cargo Bikes andE-Bikes. During 2020, Bosch succeeded in converting its polystyrene packaging to cardboard
packaging – an important signal for environmentally-friendly packaging. Cardboard packaging can then be recycled with paper.

Dialogue with Suppliers
We have been in a dialogue with 25 of ourThrough this mutual exchange, we succeeded

major suppliers since 2019 to bring them onin combining deliveries and saving logistics

board with us and to work together on solu-

journeys, reducing packaging and testing alter-tions. In 2020, we also focused here on “zeronative packaging materials. We also inspired

waste” and “zero emissions”, specifically on

our suppliers to become more sustainable inpackaging and transport routes. We therefore

their own businesses, thereby sending out anreviewed all deliveries in terms of their sus-

important signal to their entire sector.

tainability in accordance with a comprehensive

Examples of successfully completed pro-catalogue of criteria – delivery cycles, truck

jects with suppliers include reduced frame

utilisation, packaging volumes and the pack-packaging and the introduction of reusableaging materials used. We discussed the poten-

packaging systems.

tial for improvement with them and developedand implemented new ways of working.

This will be followed in 2021 by a Code of
Conduct for cooperation with suppliers toachieve greater transparency and commitment in the supply chain.

64

“Packaging has enormous potential
for reducing waste.”Hannah Müßener, Sustainability Management

Reducedframe packaging

Reusable
packaging systems

Our frames were previously delivered to us

The sustainability of a reusable packaging

packaged in several layers of plastic film,

system depends on how far the empty

foam, corrugated cardboard, plastic bags andreusable packaging needs to be transported

bubble wrap. To reduce the volume of waste

to be refilled. As a rule of thumb: a reusable

One example of an exemplary flagshipthis generates, we have carried out several

packaging system can be considered wherecompany is the tire manufacturer

trial runs together with our frame suppliersa supplier’s site is no more than 500 kilo-

Ralf Bohle GmbH, which produces theusing reduced packaging and all modes ofmetres away.

Schwalbe tire brand, from whom wetransport.
Packaging the frames with a single layer

We were able to test and successfully

Flagship supplier: Schwalbe

purchase all bike inner tubes and tires.

implement reusable packaging with our

The company is a German family-run

of bubble wrap was insufficient to protect

Belgian spoke supplier. Whereas the spokes

business based in Reichshof. The compa-

the goods from scratches in the first trial due

were previously delivered in cardboard withny’s headquarters have been built into the long distances and repeated handling

plastic inner packaging, they are now packed

accordance with the Cradle-to-Cradleof the goods. However, the second trial run

in fixed reusable transport boxes, which are

principle and solely from recyclable mate-with additional foam padding on the fork

returned to the supplier after use.

rials – Schwalbe also sets great store byends, motor bracket and on the head tube

As we fit 27,200 spokes each day, this means

the responsible production of its productsbrought the required success. Reducing ourthat we save over 4,100 boxes each year.

and goes one step further with its Green

frame packaging means that we save 23 %Compound and Fair Rubber products.

of the required packaging material (film,

The Schwalbe team has set up a recy-

corrugated cardboard, polythene bag andcling process and provides the necessary

cable ties) when delivering frames. This

infrastructure to transport old inner tubes

equates to a reduction in packaging material

to a recycling partner. Since the start ofof over 70,000 m2 for the current businessthe recycling programme, the company

year. It also makes the frames easier tohas succeeded in collecting and recycling

handle when unpacking them.

over five million inner tubes.

65

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Alternative Transport Logistics
We are increasingly using alternative trans-

Alternatively, we are increasingly using rail

Benefits of the sea & air combination [22]port routes from Asia by sea & air transporttransport for imports from Asia. Traditional• 50 % faster than sea freightand rail for import logistics to reduce emis-

trade routes, such as the Silk Road, are also

• 50 % lower air freight emissions

sions generated by pure air freight.

used to transport good to Europe quickly andreliably. Rail transport helps us save 90 % ofBenefits of rail transport [22]are delivered by ship to the transshipment

CO₂ emissions compared to air freight and we• 90 % lower CO₂ emissions compared

port in Dubai and then distributed there by air

receive the ordered goods much faster thanfreight. This ensures that we reduce the timeby comparable transport by sea freight.

With sea & air transport, goods from Asia

needed for pure sea freight and the cost of

In the current financial year, we will con-pure air freight, but can also reduce the CO₂

tinue to expand our import logistics by sea &emissions of our long-distance transport by

air transport and by rail to reduce emissions

more than 50 % compared to pure air freight.

by pure air freight.

66

to air freight• Shorter transit times compared to sea
freight

Alternative modesof transport by rail orsea & air logistics

67

2020: Zero Waste and Zero Emission

Sharing Economy
Sharing is an essential building block of a more sustainable

Corporate partnerships are a strategic tool for Riese & Müller tosociety. After all, anyone who is willing to share consumes fewer

actively shape the new mobility. Another fleet of 270 bikes isresources themselves – leaving more for everyone. This is exem-

used, for example, by our partner Nordsee E-Mobility GmbH. The

plified by the Swiss company carvelo2go, which is the world’s firstcompany provides E-Bike and Cargo Bike sharing for the car-freeand largest sharing platform for electric Cargo Bikes: there are

exploration of the North Sea islands of Norderney and Juist. In

now over 330 Cargo Bikes available in 75 Swiss towns and cities

the coming years, we will be expanding our commitment to thefor the transport of goods and children, making cars essentiallysharing segment through further partnerships.

redundant for many trips in town and in the countryside. The

for businesses to meet the importance of sharing and fleet busi-

Suisse (TCS). We have enriched the sharing concept with ourness.

knowledge, expertise and experience and supply the bikes.
carvelo2go is a concept that promotes community spirit in districts,
and our products are treated with care by this community as they
contribute to the common good.
Our aim of producing durable and high-quality Cargo Bikes
goes hand in hand with our partner’s expectations.

68

Since 2020 we have had a business unit and a rental model

platform is operated by the Mobility Academy of the Touring Club“Cargo bike sharing and zero waste
are a perfect fit.”
Tara Welschinger, owner of the FOIFI zero waste shop and café

Waste Avoidance
Tara Welschinger runs the first zero-waste

How did the people in your life respond to

Can you tell me a little more about the people

store and café in Zurich: “FOIFI”. As ayour challenge?

who rent bikes from you?

carvelo2go partner, she hosts three Packster

I noticed that something always resonatedIn my experience, they are urban, bike-

60 Cargo Bikes – the predecessor to thewith the people I told about my solutions –friendly people who like to cycle a lot. They

Packster 70 – which city residents can hire forfor instance, beeswax wraps for packing

include many families who want to go ona fee. In the interview, Tara explains how

fresh food. The idea behind the FOIFI store

trips, or even people who would like to trans-

sharing and recycling connects urban people.

and café is therefore about more than justport bulkier objects. A father immediately

providing plastic-free and natural basic prod-

comes to mind who regularly picks up his

Tara, you set up FOIFI, the first zero-waste

ucts. At the same time, it is a meeting placechildren from school on the cargo bike. He

store and café in Zurich and are still runningfor zero waste, where guests can sit downbuys jelly babies in the store while he is

it today. How did you become so committed

and exchange ideas. You can really absorb

arranging to rent the bike. Then he takes theto zero waste?

the atmosphere here and immerse yourself inchildren on a little trip and brings the bikethe issue. “FOIFI” is the Swiss German wordback after two hours or so. These are super-hedonistic, consumer-orientated, urban

Once upon a time, I was simply a normal

for “FIVE” and is inspired by the “5Rs”: Reuse,cool experiences for the children, whizzing

woman, for whom continued education took

Refuse, Reduce, Recycle and Redesign.

this fast around the place. And the dad canme to the Executive Board of a large agency.

ride further and make as many stops as he

However, on one of my last trips throughHow does the partnership with carvelo2go fit

South East Asia, I suddenly noticed how muchinto the picture?

waste ends up in the environment. Moun-

We would like to work climate-neutrally

wants to. It’s simply stress-free for him.
My partner and I have also managedwithout a car for five years. Apart from thetains of waste in the sea, on mountains, justand have done away with our car. It was

three Riese & Müller carvelo2go bikes, whichlying around everywhere where there is

obvious that we needed to build up this kind

we can use for free for 25 hours each month,dense tourism and Western advertising has aof partnership. We became aware through a

we also have our own private Cargo Bike. We

serious impact. On my trip to Africa, I saw

plumbing company of the possibility of using

use whatever is there.

piles of old clothes – six football fields wortha Cargo Bike to transport goods. Over theof them – and I became deeply aware of thecourse of a few weeks, the team visited us in

How do you rate the infrastructure for Cargo

impact my consumption, my wasted

the café and we discussed CO2 reduction andBikes in Zurich?

resources and the cycle in which we find our-logistics using a Cargo Bike.

selves is having on the world and our habi-

As a result, we applied to become a hostEvery cyclist finds Zurich a difficult city inwhich to cycle. Unfortunately, the city focusestats. So I found myself wondering: how can I

for carvelo2go. Being a store and café, we

on cars. Alternatively, there is a very well-de-change my lifestyle to conserve resources?

have the benefit of being open every day forveloped public transport network. The mostBecause I wanted to integrate this into myten to twelve hours and can flexibly deal withrecent votes in the city have revealed thateveryday life. I’m not the type to completely

the rental and return of the Packsters duringresidents wish to improve the cycle routes.

drop-out of society. I’ve therefore adjusted

these hours.

Many of the cycle routes are too narrow

my daily life to zero waste one bit at a time.

Sharing and zero waste are a perfect fit

especially for a cargo bike. Nevertheless,In doing so, you become aware of the waste

for each other, particularly in our restricted

there are an incredible number of people

that you are causing. You pay more attention

space in Zurich.

riding their bikes. And more and more people

to ingredients and ensure that packaging is

are taking up cycling.

plastic-free and reusable. I started with food,
which is the simplest, and gradually the zerowaste approach spread to my entire consumption. Of course, the switchover was
extremely time-consuming.

69

Environmental Footprint

Trollstigen, Norway

70

Product Climate Audit
Our E-Bikes and Cargo Bikes are the key to a positive transport revolution and are part of many of
our end customers’ sustainable lifestyles. This
makes it all the more important that we also takea close look at our products in terms of their
Product Carbon Footprint.

71

Environmental Footprint“From the outset, we recognised
the potential of Cargo Bikes toreplace cars for the majority of
their everyday uses.”Markus Riese and Heiko Müller, Founders and CEOs

Product Carbon Footprint
What impact do our bikes have on the climate? To determine this,We have calculated the carbon footprint of the Load 75 featuring

we produced a Product Carbon Footprint (based on our Load 75

extensive children’s equipment. This model is most likely to

Cargo Bike) together with the myclimate Foundation, a non-profit

replace a car and is one of the most popular model versionsorganisation. This shows the climate impact caused along theordered. This gives us a good basis for comparing the carbon

value chain – from the extraction of the raw material, to logistics,

footprints of both methods of transport.

assembly, usage and disposal.
This calculation is part of our zero emission strategy. The following generally applies: the longer a bike is used, the smaller isthe user’s carbon footprint. This why the durability of our bikes,
thanks to their high-quality components and timeless designs, isan essential part of our development vision.

72

73

Environmental Footprint

The six value creation phases

Disposal

Production

InwardUsage

delivery of
goods

Delivery

Packaging

Methodology and Result
All greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain of a product are

Production

added together to arrive at the Product Carbon Footprint. Each productBreakdown of components into material

life cycle is different for each user depending on the period of use andcategories (metals, plastics, textiles and elec-

the intensity of use, so average assumptions are made. However, thetronics) and identification of the individual

extraction of raw materials, production and logistics routes are iden-component weights.

tical or similar.
A product life cycle typically consists of six value creation phases.
This includes the manufacturing phase, which also includes the extrac-

Inward delivery of goods
Value of the incoming goods logistics for alltion of raw materials, inward delivery, packaging, delivery, usage andindividual components based on the country

finally the disposal phase.

of origin and the type of freight (air, sea or

As with the Climate Audit, a Product Carbon Footprint converts alltruck logistics).

climate gases, such as methane and hydrofluorocarbons, into CO2equivalents, so that all greenhouse gas emissions are taken into

Packagingaccount.

Identification of the packaging materials, theThe result is as follows: The highest emission value occurs in the
production phase, i.e. in the extraction of raw materials and the pro-weight of the component packaging and theend customer packaging of the cargo bike.

duction of components. The value for the metals is crucial here. The
second highest emission value occurs during the usage phase – theDeliverymore gently and longer a bike is ridden, the more environmentally

Value of the delivery logistics based on thefriendly it is. Of course, the electricity mix in the respective country

average sales values of the Load 75 in thealso plays a role here. The electricity mix has lower emissions when it

2019 / 2020 business year.

includes a high proportion of renewable energies and a low proportionof coal-fired electricity.

Usage
Assumption of an average riding style with a
Load service life of around 45,000 kilometres.
Disposal
Identification of the disposal processes for theindividual material categories, including the
average distances of the disposal facilities.

74

Emissions in the six value creation phases [23]Disposal
43.83 kg of CO2e

Usage
237.94 kg of CO2e

Delivery
4.82 kg of CO2e

Packaging
12.46 kg of CO2e

Load 75 vario
1,137.29 kg of CO2e

Production
696.64 kg of CO2e

Inward deliveryof goods
141.59 kg of CO2e

The bike used for calculation purposes

Load 75 vario
Whether camping equipment, the weekly shop, transporting children, or
tools and materials for customers who use the Load 75 for businesspurposes: virtually everything can be fitted in. And nothing disrupts thesafe and agile riding experience.
The low centre of gravity, a permitted total weight of up to 200 kg, themany individual cargo equipment options and the sophisticated Control
Technology make the Load 75 perfectly configurable for all requirements.

75

Environmental Footprint

Load Cargo Bike
Compared to a Car
What emissions does a Cargo Bike and average car produce?
We have compared the emissions produced in the value
chain and the average commuting emissions.

76

Comparison of Load 75 – Car emissions

311
300

250

200

150

100

50

25

0
g CO2e/vkm

Load 75

Car

Comparing the climate emissions of a passenger car and those of the Load 75 on the basis of their value
chains (production, maintenance, disposal and usage), a Load 75 cargo bike produces a total of 25 g of CO2e/vkm+
or 8 % compared to a car that emits 311 g of CO2e/vkm. We have compared here the lifetime emissions with the
lifetime kilometres.
“vkm” is the abbreviation for vehicle kilometres, i.e. the distance in kilometres travelled by the specific vehicle, in this case theLoad cargo bike or the passenger car.
+77

Environmental Footprint

Handprint [24]CityscapeSpace

A bike requires less space in urban areas and makes the construction of new parking spaces and car parks unnecessary.
A lot of space in urban areas is not used to enhance the quality of life of the residents due to flowing traffic, but
especially due to stationary traffic.

HealthFitness

Cycling reduces blood pressure and the risk of secondary disease such as cardiovascular diseases or diabetes while
also improving a person’s well-being.

Risk of accidents

The health benefits of additional exercise far outweigh the risk of an accident.

Noise

Bikes reduce the noise level in towns and cities, preventing damage to health (e.g. increased risk of a heart attack,sleep disorders).

Cost

Emissions

Road traffic is a driver of climate gases. Riding a bike can lower greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.

Upkeep

The cost of using and keeping a bicycle is far below the cost of a car.

External costs

The external costs of transport result from environmental impacts, such as air pollution, noise, emissions of climate
gases and encroachment of nature and the landscape. These costs are not borne by road users, but by society.
Bikes reduce these costs.

90—10

cents

CarBike

Handprint
What are the positive effects of E-Bikes on
people, society and our environment?

Cost of use and upkeep per kilometre

The handprint is an appropriate tool for

travelled – cycling kit, extra bikeanswering this question. The method of cal-components,such as lights andculating the Product Carbon Footprint isreversed: The footprint – that is the environ-locks included

mental footprint – focuses on the negative
impact on the climate. The handprint – thesocio-ecological handprint – collects all thesmall and large steps on the way to
improving the climate.
The Federal Environment Agency highlights some aspects positively influenced bybikes.

7—0

cents

CarBike
A car causes average environmental costs per
kilometre travelled, while cycling does not cause
any relevant external environmental costs.

78

2,685,661—
87,253Auto

FahrradRoad traffic accidents by car compared toroad traffic accidents by bike (2019) [25]7.6—1.2

m2

Car [26]Bike
Traffic area** Traffic area here means the area given over to stationary or flowing traffic,
the usable area of the vehicle. With the bike, we measured it at its widest
point for the calculation (handlebar width x length).

79

Environmental Footprint

Quality is not a Luxury.
We build bikes that are intended for everyday use. That is why
they need particularly high-quality and durable components. This
attitude is incorporated in development, from the initial idea tothe final bike. We want to guarantee maximum riding enjoyment
and durability. For this reason, the longer a part lasts, the lessnew production has to be done and the more we reduce theburden on the environment. The Tinker by Pierre Lars Zander,
which is actually designed for short distances, is a good exampleof this objective.

80

“COVID most certainly did
play a role in why I’ve been
cycling so much.”

The Supercommuter

Pierre Lars Zander

30,000 kilometres: that’s the distance Pierre Lars Zander covered

Another reason for opting for the compact bike lies in the cycling

with the compact, reliable and robust Tinker within one year. At

infrastructure: “My favourite route to Mannheim is blocked bythis rate, he will have cycled far enough to have circumnavigatedbollards in some places. Improvements are needed here, espe-

the world by January 2021.

cially for cargo bikes or large trailers.”

The 56-year-old master electrician Pierre Lars Zander com-

The technically skilled E-Bike enthusiast of course knows

mutes from Frankfurt am Main to his workplace in Wiesbaden.

how to maintain and care for his Tinker. He knows how to get theThat makes around 90 kilometres covered a day, and on threemost out of the components. He says simple, practical action isdays a week, he also travels from Frankfurt to Mannheim. Suchoften all that’s needed. For example, he recommends always

long distances really add up. As of October 2020, that makes

keeping the Gates belt tensioned. This prevents wear to the belt

exactly 32,464 kilometres, almost the distance needed to circum-

teeth. He also suggests applying a bit of water to the belt to getnavigate the globe in a straight line.

it flexible again when dust makes it creak on dry days.

The COVID boost

Driven by inner calm

On his Tinker in “orange metallic” with its matching, self-adapted

When asked how he got into cycling, he grins. “I learned to cycle

top box secured with a lashing strap on the carrier attachment,on my grandmother’s bike. Balancing on it came automatically,

Pierre Lars Zander makes a striking appearance on the cycling

because you need quite a bit of starting momentum to get suchpath. You wouldn’t think of him as the Supercommuter at firsta huge bike moving. Besides that, I was overweight as a child. By

glance. But if you look more closely, you notice his weathered-

the time I turned 12, I weighed 104 kilos. Once I reached puberty,

tanned face. And his calm, stoic pedalling that has supplanted

I started exercising a lot, and cycling was my activity of choice.”

walking as his natural form of movement.

That hasn’t changed. At the age of 18, he discovered the pleasure“COVID most certainly did play a role in why I’ve been cyclingof long cycling tours. “They really help me unwind. And with anso much”, the E-Biker concedes. “I really enjoyed getting exercise

E-Bike, it’s even easier. I manage to concentrate wholeheartedly

in the fresh air and not being dependent on public transport. Thison nature.”

seems to have added up to a few more kilometres than usual.”

The Supercommuter’s longest tour so far hasn’t even been acommute. It was an outing from Frankfurt am Main to Strasbourg,

The Tinker: “Compact, robust and high-quality.”

France – in one and a half days, along 460 “leisurely cycled” kilo-

At the start of the 2020 model year, the cycling aficionado Pierre

his batteries.

metres. The only reason he took accommodation was to charge

Lars Zander opted for the Tinker vario from Riese & Müller, with
its Cargo carrier and 500 Wh battery. He also always carries two
extra 500 Wh batteries in his orange top box. “The bike is compact and I can also pick it up.” This way, he can also take it withhim on the train. Nonetheless, it is very robust, made to a highstandard and well-equipped. This is paying off: despite the considerable mileage, there have been no defects to speak of. Only
components that wear – such as the brake pads – have had tobe replaced.

81Outlook

Isle of Tiree, Scotland

82

Outlook
In the coming year, we will increasingly consider
the outside world and look at the transparencyof our supply chain. However, a host of exciting
projects also await us on our Campus in Mühltal
and for our end customers.

83

Outlook“Speed and courageare crucial to the success ofsustainability strategies.”
Dr. Sandra Wolf, CEO

Future Issues
1. The cycling boom will continue and E-Bikes
will play an increasingly central role in inner-city
mobility. It is one of the keys to the transport
revolution.
2. A positive result of the crisis is that bikes will havea firm, emotional place in the mobility of the future
and will therefore be more anchored in society than
before the crisis.
3. People want to know where the products they use
come from, and how they can make a transparent
assessment of whether their consumption protects
human rights and the environment.
4. Companies will only survive in the long term if they
are resilient, adaptable and flexible – in other words,
are able to constantly reinvent themselves in theongoing crisis.
5. There is an “open window” for big changes. Speed,
courage and a “now-or-never” mentality are crucial
to success.

84

85

OutlookResearch and Teaching
Cycling Foundation Professorship; Frankfurt University of

The German Federal Ministry of Transport launched the “Cycling

Applied Sciences

Foundation Professorships” funding programme within the frame-With our mission to be creators of tomorrow’s mobility, we also

work of the National Cycling Plan (NRVP) 2020 and is funding awant to drive forward infrastructural changes as a prerequisite

total of seven cycling professorships throughout Germany. “As afor more widespread cycling. That is why Riese & Müller is sup-German premium manufacturer of E-Bikes and Cargo Bikes, we

porting one of seven new Cycling Foundation Professorships, thisare very pleased that the Cycling Foundation Professorship will

one at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (FUAS). By doing

intensify research and teaching in cycling at Frankfurt University ofso, we are supporting important scientific work to make mobility

Applied Sciences,” emphasises Dr. Sandra Wolf, CEO at Riese &sustainable and future-proof. The new Foundation Professorship

Müller. “That is why we are happy to support applied research in

was set up in the winter semester of 2020 / 2021 and is funded

this field by providing 50 % of the funding for a research fellow.”by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). The aim of the funding is to expand teaching inPractical partnership with the Alanus University

cycle traffic and firmly anchor bicycles in the mobility mix of the

An integrated educational idea is being pursued at the Alanus

future.

University of Art and Social Sciences. In addition to in-depth pro-Prof. Dr. Dennis Knese accepted the offer from the FUAS. “I

fessional training, the university attaches great importance to theam very much looking forward to continuing to teach, conductpersonal development of students and to ensuring that each andresearch in this field and develop a special focus on cycling,” com-every one of them understands their impact on society.

ments the native of Frankfurt on his new position.

focuses on the total person. In doing so, the University of Alanus iscations. This interdisciplinary approach is of great important

invoking the humanistic ideal of Schiller and Humboldt, while atacross the department and university. Combining engineering,

the same time taking up the idea of Rudolf Steiner’s anthropos-

economic and social science perspectives is crucial for sustainableophical perspective of “forming whole human beings”. Since 2020

transport and urban development.”

we have been a practical partner of the Alanus University in the

The newly created courses also include a Master’s degree
course on “Sustainable Mobility”, which will culminate with adegree focussing on cycling as a mode of transport. Overall, there
needs to be a greater focus on cycling as an independent modeof transport, and this new course is intended to enable planners
to design good cycling infrastructure in municipalities and theregions.

86

In this sense, the educational concept of the Alanus University“I will strongly interweave teaching, practical research and appli-

degree course “Rethinking business with professional practice.”

“We are creators of
tomorrow’s mobility.”
Riese & Müller Mission

87Outlook“The three Riese & Müller Load 60 Cargo
Bikes give us the opportunity to act asmultipliers and to embrace and pass on
new ways of thinking.”
Ralf Zickler, Senior Teacher, Peter Behrens Secondary School88Bike School
Sustainable mobility also means getting the next generations fit

Mobile Slow Food Studioand ready for the road – on bikes, E-Bikes or Cargo Bikes. They

This service is aimed at interested school classes in the Darmstadt

need to feel safe on their bikes in traffic and off-road for this toregion who want to get to know slow food cuisine. The focus is

succeed.

on an introduction to an enjoyable and healthy diet with the

The Peter Behrens Secondary School (PBS) and the Erasmus

help of the project team of students from the PBS Hotel TechnicalKittler School in Darmstadt have set up a bike school for thisCollege who are training to work in the catering industry. Food,

purpose. It regularly offers bike tours and safety training to the

kitchen utensils and equipment are transported to the respective

students of the vocational school centre. In the bike school, stu-school on a Load 60. Another idea involves a street food format

dents become familiar with cycling as an urban mode of transport

on a Cargo Bike.

and a natural form of getting around. The young people are alsotaught technical bike skills in the affiliated workshop.
The Bike School has expanded its project programme withthree Load 60 Cargo Bikes in cooperation with Riese & Müller.

Mobile Social Carpentry
The PBS carpentry classes regularly apply their craft to nonprofit and sustainable purposes, such as the “Menschenkinder”

Bike Ability

children’s and youth programme in Kranichstein, the German

Cycling and safety training form an integral part of the Bike School

Nature Conservation Society (NABU) in Seeheim, or the forest

lessons. Following initial training within the school grounds, stu-

educational project in the Hessenforst forest. The Load 60 trans-

dents are then taken out onto the road and into the countryside.

ports all the tools and building materials that were previously

The Load 60 has to transport traffic cones, ropes, cardboard

carried on foot by the 14 students involved to their place of work.

stands and other exercise elements for the mobile exercise area.

The Cargo Bike is in its element here: unlike a car, it is also per-This enables the material to be swapped flexibly and in a climate-mitted on forest trails, bringing the trainees into direct contact

friendly manner between different learning sites. The Load alsowith nature.

acts as a service bike for multi-day tours.

89Outlook“We are looking
forward to thenext stage.”Markus Riese, Heiko Müller, Dr. Sandra Wolf – Riese & Müller CEOs90

“Mobility needs to bemade possible for everyone.”
Dr. Stefan Carsten, Futurologist

Outlook 2021
We have set ourselves the goal in 2021 of being more outward• Joint work in associations and working groups on the basic

looking. On the one hand, we will continue and improve ourprinciples of supply chain legislation that is workable for mid-ongoing focus on zero waste and zero emissions. On the other,sized companies.

we will look more closely at our supply chain. Our planned milestones for 2021 are as follows:• Start of joint sustainability projects with selected suppliers, on
general topics as well as on components.

• Development and signing of a Code of Conduct tailored to
Riese & Müller with reference the United Nations Guiding Princi-

We will also continue to focus on the political advancement ofples for Business and Human Rights and the United Nations

the transport revolution and address these issues in associations.

Global Compact.
• Drafting of a Code of Conduct for cooperation with our global
suppliers based on the supplier discussions begun in 2019 andour expectations with regard to our suppliers’ sustainability
strategy. Where possible, continuation of our on-site audits ofour suppliers’ factories.

91

Lars Schneider
Hamburg photographer Lars Schneider has been living in Norway with his family since the summerof 2019. Winter there lasts around six months – and yet he has opted for a Cargo Bike, our Load 60,
as his vehicle of choice for everyday life. When he is not out on the road as a contract photographer
for renowned outdoor brands, he uses his new home to do the things he previously had to travel
for: ski touring, trail running, trekking, fishing and cycle racing. His photos and films have shaped thestyle of the Riese & Müller brand since 2019.

92Legal information

Bibliography

Publisher[1] https://www.vox.com/energy-and-[15] Guidelines on the German Sustainability Code,

Riese & Müller GmbHenvironment/2019/4/9/18300797/barcelona-

Advice on Sustainable Development c/o Deutsche

Am Alten Graben 2

spain-superblocks-urban-planGesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

64367 Mühltal
Germany+49 6151 36686-0

https://enorm-magazin.de/gesellschaft/urbanisierung/superblocks-von-barcelona[2] https://www.adfc.de/artikel/innovative-

Responsibility / Sustainability
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Jörg Matheisverkehrswende-bruessel-radfahrer-

Alexander Eilhauer

fussgaenger-tempolimit-autofahrer

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Photography
Lars Schneider[5] https://copenhagenizeindex.eu/cities/oslo Stand:11.12.2020[6] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Copenhagenize_Index[7] Spiegel
https://www.spiegel.de/auto/freiburg-will-tempo30-in-der-ganzen-stadt-einfuehren-a-2019e0107a70-40a1-856a-147f9f47bda5 Stand: 11.12.2020[8] https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/(GIZ) GmbH (Publ.), 2020, page 20[16] Deposit not Waste, RECUP(https://recup.de/der-recup; date 11.12.2020)
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themen/verkehr-laerm/nachhaltige-mobilitaet/
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vom-ausland-lernen-von-gregor-bauernfeind-0[12] https://www.ebikes4africa.org/
e-bikes-4-Windhoek-Commuter

https://www.torial.com/lisa.plank/portfolio/474636
Wir prüfen jedes Kommunikationselement
auf seine Passung zu unserer Marken- und Nach-[13] https://www.greater.sydneyhaltigkeitsstrategie. Seit 2019 verzichten wir deshalb[14] The United Nations, Main Department for

weitestgehend auf gedruckte Kommunikation undBusiness and Social Affairs of the United Nations

vollständig auf unnötige Give-aways.

93

Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, Scotland

Published: December 2020

Website: r-m.deFacebook: facebook.com/rieseundmueller
Instagram: instagram.com/riesemuller

Sulden, Italy

Podcasts: r-m-unplugged.podigee.io