Hunt today unveiled a trio of new wheelsets amid a wider announcement around its plans for environmental sustainability.
In short, this means that, in addition to a company-wide commitment to meet certain sustainability targets, three of the most popular wheelsets have undergone a redesign using recycled materials, less resource-intensive manufacturing processes, sustainability-focused specification choices and shorter transport distances to reduce the impact on reduce the environment.
The trio of products will form the start of the brand’s Sustain range, which will grow as more wheelsets undergo the same process.
In this step, Hunt uses a framework established by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), the collaborative group between the Carbon Disclosure Project, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature. Founded in 2015, SBTi was designed to provide companies with a clearly defined path to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The three wheelsets that make up the Sustain collection so far are the 42 Carbon Disc Ti, the Four Season All-Road Disc and the Trail Wide 29.
42 Carbon disc Ti
The 42 Carbon Disc Ti is a versatile all-rounder that can handle both on and off road. It has a depth of 42mm and thanks to the internal width of 22mm it is optimized for tires between 25 and 35mm.
It is the only carbon fiber wheel included in the new collection so far, and the new version will be made with 10% recycled carbon fiber.
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Interestingly, Hunt will use a wax mold to manufacture the rims, rather than the usual disposable EPS or silicone molds or inflatable bladders. Instead of cutting out, the wax can be melted, then reformed and reused more than 20 times. Construction will also utilize a unique resin transfer molding method, rather than ‘pre-preg’ carbon fibre. This allows the plates to be stored at room temperature, saving energy costs. It also means that carbon scraps are not already impregnated with resin, meaning less resin is used overall and the scraps can be recycled.
The finishing touch to these wheels is a one-piece titanium freehub body, with the outer half of the star ratchet cast directly into place. This makes it lighter, while further reducing waste material.
Four-season all-road disc & trail wide 29
A derivative of the original Hunt wheel, the Four Season is an affordable alloy wheel that is 25mm deep and 22mm internally wide, and is also intended for mixed terrain riding with tires between 25 and 35mm, although there are happily tires of up to 50 mm will fit. .
Meanwhile, the latest wheel to get the Sustain treatment is the Trail Wide 29, a mountain bike wheel optimized for tires between 2.2 inches and 2.6 inches wide, thanks to its 30mm internal width. The Trail Wide 27.5 isn’t currently receiving the same treatment, but it’s a safe bet that it will follow suit.
Both are made from 75% recycled aluminum. 30% comes from post-consumer recycling, such as recycled cans. The remaining 45% comes from the industrial sector, which offers greater material consistency, and includes CNC chips or scraps.
Strikingly, all three wheelsets get silver spokes and nipples, which Hunt says are more environmentally friendly than anodized black versions.
“While anodizing alloy wheels and hubs is necessary to protect the surface from wear and improve part life, the electrical chemical coating process used to color coat black spokes and copper spoke nipples provides no practical or performance benefit that goes beyond aesthetics,” says the brand. That is why it has chosen to save the necessary energy and chemical consumption.
This decision is just one of several steps that are part of the broader company initiative to apply for accreditation by the SBTi. As part of this agreement, the company will publish an annual report, the first of which will be published at the end of 2024.
The Science-Based Targets Initiative
The commitment consists of multiple phases, or scopes, that increase in impact with each step. Scope 1 includes direct emissions from company-owned sources such as buildings, vehicles and equipment. Scope 2 extends the requirement to indirect emissions, including the effect of the production of electricity that the company uses. The company has committed to reducing these emissions by at least 50% by 2030.
Scope 3 goes further again and extends to the entire supply chain of Hunt’s products, upstream and downstream, including raw materials, electricity used by Hunt’s suppliers and end-of-life disposal. This ultimately means bringing all of Hunt’s suppliers and customers up to Scope 1 and Scope 2 levels, something Hunt says it is committed to, either by using different suppliers or by working with existing suppliers to work.
In addition, Hunt also says it is committed to increasing the usability and durability of its products, and has committed to maintaining stock of all all-wheel service parts from 2015, in an effort to encourage riders to repair wheels instead of replacing them. them.
Hunt is now the latest in a string of brands in the cycling industry that have set sustainability goals. Canyon announced in February this year that it had been verified by SBTi, while Ralf Bohle GmbH – the parent company of Schwalbe Tires – had committed to its own climate targets with SBTi in 2022. Elsewhere, Trek, SRAM and REI each produce a regular sustainability strategy. report, while Giant has outlined its ESG commitment and Bosch has been carbon neutral since 2020.