“Container – The Global Box” – Exhibition at the LWL Museum in Henrichenburg until 12 April 2026
How do our bicycle frames and components actually make their way to Waltrop?
One possible answer is provided by the exhibition “Container – The Global Box” at the LWL Museum Schiffshebewerk Henrichenburg.
The exhibition clearly demonstrates how the container has revolutionised global trade – and how strongly our daily lives are shaped by global supply chains. Around 90% of all goods traded between continents worldwide are transported by container ships. Our bicycle frames are also shipped from the production site in Taiwan to Germany, before being assembled here in Waltrop.
The exhibition makes these routes visible: it shows how efficient global logistics work – but also highlights the ecological and social questions associated with them.
Why this matters to us
As a bicycle manufacturer, we are part of these global structures. Many high-quality components are produced where decades of expertise in bicycle manufacturing exist. At the same time, we are aware that every transport process consumes resources.
That’s why we actively engage with questions such as:
- How can we optimise transport routes?
- How can supply chains become more resilient and transparent?
- Where can we reduce emissions?
- Which components can be produced regionally?
For us, sustainability does not begin with the finished bicycle. It begins with the question of how materials and components reach us – and how we take responsibility along the entire value chain.
Transparency instead of ignoring the issue
Engaging with global flows of goods is not a theoretical topic. It directly affects us. That is precisely why we welcome initiatives like this exhibition: they raise awareness of the complex journeys behind seemingly everyday products.
Our goal is clear:
To shape mobility sustainably – while being honest about the challenges.
Because true sustainability does not mean ignoring global interconnections – but understanding them and taking responsibility.
German Book „Container - Die globale Box“
by LWL Industrial Museum, Arnulf Siebeneicker & Mathias Wagener
The book “Container – The Global Box” (2025) tells the fascinating story of a steel box that has revolutionised transport and production worldwide. It clearly illustrates how the container enables global supply chains – and the ecological, economic, and social impacts this system has set in motion.
Why not drop by your local bookshop again! Alternatively, available from Klartext Verlag.
FAQs
Here we answer frequently asked questions about sustainability, mobility, and our bicycles.
Bicycles with electric pedal assistance are considered an environmentally friendly alternative to cars – and for good reason. They make it possible to cover longer distances, commuting routes, or transport heavy loads in a climate-friendly way. Especially in everyday life, they often replace car journeys and thus measurably contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions. In addition, our electric Hase Bikes models provide mobility for people who are unable to ride a conventional bicycle for health reasons. In this context, e-bikes mean participation, independence, and quality of life. At the same time, it is important to note that the environmental benefit mainly arises when car journeys are replaced. Switching from a non-motorised bicycle to an e-bike does not significantly improve one’s personal carbon footprint, as batteries, motors, and production also generate emissions. However, e-bikes can encourage people to cycle who would otherwise rely on cars. Key factors for sustainability therefore include usage patterns, product lifespan, repairability, and the electricity mix used. With durable products, spare parts availability, and the recommendation to charge batteries using renewable energy, e-bikes make an important contribution to climate-friendly mobility.
According to the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), a typical pedelec generates around 15 g CO₂ equivalents per passenger kilometre, whereas a car produces around 194 g. In use, an e-bike is therefore more than twelve times more climate-friendly than a car. However, production creates a one-time “carbon backpack”: manufacturing a pedelec battery generates approximately 27.5 to 37.5 kg CO₂ equivalents. These emissions occur upfront. What matters is how the e-bike is used. Anyone replacing car journeys with e-bike kilometres saves significant emissions per kilometre. When these savings are offset against the emissions from battery production, the carbon “backpack” is typically offset after around 150 to 300 kilometres. This means that after a relatively short time, the e-bike becomes more climate-friendly overall than a car – and every additional kilometre further improves the personal carbon footprint.
Source: German Environment Agency
https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/umweltfreundlich-mobil
Bicycles are a particularly sustainable mode of transport because they offer multiple benefits at once: they promote users’ health through physical activity, save space in cities, and reduce traffic congestion and noise. At the same time, they lower air pollution and CO₂ emissions compared to cars. Bicycles improve quality of life in urban environments and support climate-friendly mobility. The more durable and repairable a bicycle is, the more sustainable it becomes over its entire lifecycle.
Yes, cargo bikes are considered a highly sustainable alternative to cars and delivery vehicles, especially in urban environments. They enable the transport of goods, shopping, or children without operational CO₂ emissions and require less space in traffic. However, their environmental impact depends on usage and production. Durable materials, repairable components, and replacing motorised vehicles increase sustainability. When charged with renewable energy, electrically assisted models are almost entirely climate-friendly. In short: cargo bikes combine efficiency, environmental protection, and everyday practicality – making an important contribution to sustainable urban mobility.
Whistleblowing system
Transparency and integrity are important to us. Our whistleblowing system provides a secure and anonymous way to report misconduct – enabling us to take responsibility together.