Q&A with Bernice Dapaah

How did your journey into sustainability begin?

I grew up on the outskirts of Kumasi, Ghana, and I used to ride my bike to school from my grandfather’s house. I remember how often I had to stop to fix it. I was always looking for ways to make a lasting repair. Years later, I saw bamboo products online and thought, why not try making bikes out of bamboo? There was plenty of bamboo, and seeing kids struggle to get to school in the morning, I wanted to help them by creating something that could benefit both the planet and my community.

What inspired you to turn bamboo into a green mobility solution?

Plants, our innocuous-looking companions on the planet, hold fine-tuned solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. We just have to engineer them to our advantage, and that is what bamboo bikes are all about. Green mobility isn’t just about climate; it also transforms our social wellbeing too.

What was it like in the early stages of building the bike?

My first attempt wasn’t so good. I started by using cassava paste for the joints, and the whole thing fell apart on my first ride! So, I sought professional help. With help from engineers, the design was improved, and today we have reliable road and mountain bicycles made from 75% bamboo, and I am looking for ways to increase that percentage. I am also working on a wheelchair design.

What impact has your venture had so far?

Wheels, gears, brakes, and handlebars are mostly second-hand parts, refurbished by the EcoRide team. EcoRide plants ten bamboo trees for each one they harvest.

We’ve trained more than 60 young men and women and currently employ 25 full-time staff. My goal is to employ 200 people from my community. We also donate bikes to schoolchildren, because cutting down the time it takes to get to school really does impact their education. So far, we’ve sold more than 3,000 road, mountain, and children’s bikes and plan to donate 10,000 bikes to schoolchildren over five years.

What do you see in the future of green business?

People want to go green, low-carbon, lean-energy efficient. The trend indicates that consumers will increasingly show a preference for greener products and are likely to show loyalty to brands that demonstrate commitment to environmental sustainability. There is a vast field of opportunity opening up to environmentally responsive businesses in the future due to increased taste for sustainable products.

Any final thoughts for those thinking of joining the sustainability movement?

Green mobility is the new frontier that has a transforming effect on not just the climate but our social wellbeing. I love the idea of reusing bamboo to promote sustainable cycling. Be courageous, the solutions are sometimes right around us. We just have to see them differently.

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