Hunt today announced a trio of new wheelsets in a wider announcement surrounding plans for environmental sustainability. 

In short, this means that three of the most popular wheelsets, alongside a company-wide commitment to achieving specific sustainability goals, have undergone a redesign using recycled materials, less resource-intensive manufacturing processes, sustainability-focused specification selection and shorter transport distances to reduce environmental impact. It will be. 

The trio of products form the beginning of the brand's sustain range and grow as more wheelsets go through the same process. 

The move sees Hunt using a framework set by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a joint group between the Carbon Disclosure Project, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute and the World Nature Fund. SBTi was established in 2015 to provide companies with a clear path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.  

The three-wheeled sets that make up the Sustain Collection so far include the 42Carbon Disc Ti, the Four Season All-Road Disc and the Trail Wide29. 

The 42Carbon Disc Ti is a versatile all-rounder that can handle on-road and off-road terrain. It boasts a depth of 42mm and an internal width of 22mm means it is optimized for tires between 25 and 35mm.

It's so far the new Co

Interestingly, to manufacture the rims, Hunt uses the usual disposable EPS or silicone mold, or a wax mold rather than an inflatable bladder. Rather than being cut out, the wax can be melted and reformed and reused more than 20 times. The construction also uses a unique resin transfer molding method, rather than 'pre-preg' carbon fiber. This means the sheets can be stored at room temperature, saving energy costs. It also means that carbon offcuts are not already impregnated with resin and less resin is used overall, and offcuts can be recycled, and

The finishing touch to these wheels is a one-piece titanium freehub body that has an outboard half of a star ratchet molded directly into place. This reduces weight while further reducing waste. 

Four Season, a derivative of the original Hunt wheel, is an affordable alloy wheel that sits inside 25mm deep, 22mm wide, intended for mixed terrain riding with 25mm to 35mm tires, but can happily accommodate 50mm wide tires. 

On the other hand, the last wheel to be given a sustain treatment is Trail wide 29, which, thanks to its 30mm internal width, is a mountain bike wheel optimized for tires between 2.2in and 2.6in wide. Trail Wide 27.5 is not currently receiving the same treatment, but it is a safe bet that it will continue. 

Both are made using 75% recycled aluminum. 30% are sourced from post-consumer recycling, such as recycled cans. The remaining 45% are supplied from the industrial sector, which provides greater material consistency and includes CNC shavings or off-cuts. 

In particular, all 3 wheelsets have been given silver spokes and nipples, and Hunt says they are more environmentally friendly than the anodized black version. 

"While alloy rims and hubs must be anodized to protect surfaces from wear and improve the life of parts, the electrochemical coating process used to color coat black and brass spoke nipples has no practical or performance advantage beyond aesthetics," the brand says . As a result, we chose to save on the energy and chemical usage we needed. 

This decision is just one of the steps that constitute a broader corporate initiative to seek accreditation by SBTi.1 As part of the agreement, the company will issue an annual report, the first of which will be published at the end of 2024.

A commitment consists of multiple phases or scopes, and each step has a greater impact. Scope 1 includes direct emissions from sources we own, such as buildings, vehicles and equipment. Scope 2 extends the requirement to indirect emissions, including the impact of the production of electricity used by the company. The company is committed to reducing these emissions by 2030 by at least 50%. 

Scope 3 goes further again and extends upstream and downstream of the entire supply chain of Hunt's products, including raw materials, electricity used by Hunt's suppliers, and end-of-life disposal. This includes ultimately bringing all Hunt's suppliers and customers to Scope 1 and Scope 2 levels.Hunt states that it is committed to doing what hunt does, either by using different suppliers or by working with existing suppliers. 

In addition to this, Hunt also states that it is committed to improving the maintainability and durability of the product, so it is recommended to maintain an inventory of all service parts for all wheels dating back to 2015 to encourage riders to repair the wheels rather than replace them. We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products and services. 

Hunt became the latest in a line of brands in the bicycle industry to set sustainability goals. Canyon announced that it was validated by SBTi on May 2 this year, and Ralf Bohle GmbH, the parent company of Schwalbe Tyres, committed to SBTi and its own climate targets in 2022. Elsewhere, Trek, SRAM and REI each produce regular sustainability reports, while the Giant has expressed its commitment to ESG, and Bosch has remained carbon neutral since 2020.