Environment & Social Economy
We understand our environment as our outside world, and we really like it. That is why we do our part to preserve and protect it. We are a Registered Social Economic Company for the same reason. Not because it's anything special, but because we want to contribute as much as we can and live up to our own standards. On this page, we describe our modest results as soberly and structured as possible.
The immediate environment
The big environment
We work based on a constitution. Read it here
Social Impact
It's a standing joke that those in Buddha Bikes who don't already have a diagnosis should probably get one. And there should be a place for people like us.
The municipality calls some of us "vulnerable citizens" so we also use that term when we measure and communicate.
Status 1 /1-2026
-
50-55% of employees & interns are officially "vulnerable" and/or chronically ill.
-
Internship capacity: 1-2 at a time
-
Capacity apprentices: 3
Training program
We reserve our training capacity for apprentices who would have difficulty finding an apprenticeship elsewhere.
The training to become a Bicycle Mechanic typically takes 3-4 years and the quality of this depends 95% on the internship location and the apprentice themselves. That is why we have developed a training program.
It consists of quarterly evaluations, ongoing learning goals, strict rules, opportunities for both cash bonuses and written warnings.
Collaboration with Team V
At Team V's initiative, we at Buddha Bikes have a collaboration that brings great joy and meaningful employment to a group of wonderful people.
That's how consumers throw away. We then get this "waste" in Buddha Bikes, and most of it becomes good recycled bikes. But some of this is also waste for us. But it's not for Team V!
They have regular trips (the whole bunch) to Buddha Bikes, where our bicycle scrap is collected. At their workshop it is sorted and separated. And some of it can even be used at their own bicycle workshop and donated to social causes, e.g. Sandholmlejerens bicycle workshop, etc. These will be bicycle components that we cannot give a warranty on (because they are TOO worn out), but therefore they can still be used.
It gives them a fun sorting activity with motor skills training, etc. and it creates meaningful employment.
Team V is an employment offer under the Social Services Department of the Municipality of Copenhagen for adults with “reduced physical and mental functioning.” These people are quite hard hit, to put it bluntly.
That's why it's fantastic that the offer exists, and we feel enriched by the fact that we are repeatedly visited by the wonderful people in Team v's offer.
Recycling production
CO2 load is quickly complex to calculate if all factors have to be included. Especially if you want to be honest and avoid giving people the wrong impression.
In 2026, we aim to produce 1200 recycled bicycles. The supply of recycled bicycles will thus increase by 1200 units. Recycled bikes are only available to a limited extent, unlike imported assembly line bikes that are always "forever" because you can just import a few more.
So it's pretty safe to say we've prevented the sale of 1200 NEW bikes. Our bikes cost an average of 25 kg of Co2 to retore. A new assembly line bike, incl. transport and packaging, costs 225 kg Co2
Has Buddha Bikes thus saved the planet approx. 240,000 kg of Co2, corresponding to approx. 14 average Danes' annual consumption?
Perhaps. We can't prove it. But we intend to refurbish even more bikes at a cost of 25 kg of Co2 each. We can't run away from that .
Judge for yourself.