Cyclists, especially those who are riding on busy city streets, should wear protective headgear. With the growing popularity of bike-share programs in cities, especially with urban commuters, it makes sense to create a similarly convenient and portable solution for head protection. Enter the paper, foldable helmet.
Pratt Insitute of Design graduate Isis Shiffer designed the EcoHelmet as an affordable and recyclable alternative to big, clunky helmets.
According to Tree Hugger, the helmet is made from recycled paper, and is constructed in a honeycomb pattern that distributes impact “from any direction as effectively as traditional polystyrene.”
The helmet is also coated in a biodegradable, water-resistant solution that works in the rain for up to three hours.
Shiffer won the James Dyson Award in 2016 for her design, and said that the helmet could be available through vending machines at bike share stations this year.
With the already prevalent branding efforts on bike share programs (most cities have sponsorships for the programs, like Citi Bank in New York and Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia), the helmets provide a good opportunity for even more branding.
