Why Supernova rejects PVC

For decades, many experts and environmental protection organizations have been urging the risks of PVC. With good right: it is hardly responsible for the fact that chlorine compounds in the body, or that thousands of marine animals are already in the body in children, are in the body. HART-PVC in particular does not decompose and is only limited recyclable. In order to finally dispose of it, it usually has to be burned. When burning, however, caustic hydrogen chlorine forms and even highly toxic TCCD (dioxin) can be released at low burning temperatures. Dioxin is 1000x more poisonous than cyankali and 500x to be poisonous than strychnine.

 

Why is it not forbidden?

There is simply not enough pressure from the public. Consumers are not sufficiently informed and the PVC industry spends a lot of money on marketing campaigns in which the supposed advantages of PVC are advertised and the dangers are played down. In addition, PVC is cheap, can be processed well and many manufacturers simply see no reason to exchange the plastic for a more environmentally friendly material - it is bought.

 

Which components are usually made from PVC during bicycle lighting?

With bicycle lighting, PVC is very often used for cables, switch caps and partly also for the housing and for brackets. In some cases, front slices are also made of PVC. Last but not least, the headlight comes into the transparent PVC packaging.

 

Are there any alternatives at all?

There are enough alternatives. Although these are more expensive, they often have significantly better material properties. The cables here are a good example:

The PVC-free supernova cables on our headlights and taillights are not only more environmentally friendly, but also mechanically much more composed. Here we use materials such as PE (polyethylene) or pure (polyurethane). They are also more abrasion-resistant and UV-resistant. They are more flexible, especially in winter when it is colder outside. If conventional cables often become brass and break light, they remain flexible even at low temperatures. If the cables have reached the end of their life cycle, they can also be used again by recycling.

For all M99 headlights we only use hardened glass, which is significantly more scratch -resistant than PVC. The Supernova Terraflux lenses consist of UV-resistant PMMA.

 

 

Since when has Supernova be using PVC-free material?

In 2003 we started building bicycle lighting without PVC. It wasn't that easy at first. From sealing rubber to the cable - a lot had to be analyzed and parts lists had to be adjusted. In addition, there were long discussions with suppliers and customers. With success: With our strict waiver of PVC, among other things, we were able to convince one of the largest e-bike engine manufacturers to no longer produce their special cables for the light tanker from PVC, but from a more environmentally friendly alternative material.

 

What can you do?

 

Take a look at the materials with every purchase and simply buy no products that contain the PVC. The more participation, the better.