Wooden cycle helmet made entirely from forest products

A wooden cycle helmet made entirely from forest products promises to be the world's most environmentally friendly protective headgear.

While the safety benefits of cycle helmets have yet to be proved, it's a fact that the polystyrene from which they are made relies on the production of oil. Until now.

Swedish designers have replaced the polystyrene with a renewable and biodegradable wood-based material called Cellufoam.

It’s not the first wooden cycle helmet – there is even a cardboard design on the market – but this one is made entirely from forest products; the outer layer is veneer, the straps are strong paper, and then the foam is made from cellulose fibres. Other potential applications for Cellufoam include flame retardant materials and water filtration.

Although the Netherlands is probably the safest country in the world for cycling, helmet wearing is rare. It has been estimated that only about 0.5 per cent of cyclists in the Netherlands are helmeted. Statistic show that cycling is one of the safest ways to spend one's time. As well as being safer than obvious high-risk sports like climbing, it is also much safer than activities such as football, swimming, fishing and certainly travelling as car passenger. Few people argue that drivers should wear helmets.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.

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