Classic Cycle, 740 Winslow Way East, Bainbridge Island, WA. 98110,  (206)842-2565. www.classiccycleus.com

Owners Jeff Groman and Els Heyne are employing sustainable business approaches that not only are good for the environment but good for business:

Environmental

1. Saving used bike chains and sending them to a company in Oregon that makes products out of them and we sell those products in the store;
2. Saving used tubes and sending them to a company in Seattle that makes products out of them  and we sell those product in the store;
3. We save all used metal parts and recycle them in metal recycling;
4. Each station has a garbage and recycle bin to separate stuff from the start;
5. We buy as much as possible locally, such as office and shop supplies, plus buy 100% recycled paper, toilet paper and towels;
6. We only use “safe” products for cleaning bikes;
7. We earned a 5 star rating with EnviroStar;
8. We try to only buy items for resale that come with minimal packaging and tell the vendors why;
9. Continually ask companies about recycled products, products with less packaging and have them ship items with as little packaging as possible,  etc.;
10. We purchase 100% green energy form Puget Sound Energy. They did an audit at the store and made recommendations to reduce energy. From that, we created a plan to implement those suggestions over time. At the moment,  we have reduced our energy usage from 85.6K WH per day to 66.5 KWH per day (February, 2010);
11. We stopped sending out paper newsletters or announcements only do email;
12. We encourage car pooling or riding bikes as much as possible with our employees and had several contest and prizes for employees who rode their bikes the most. Now almost 80% ride their bike;
13. We re-use and re-make store fixtures and displays as much as possible so very little ends up in the landfill, we created a “new sales counter” entirely made of old displays;
14. We have mugs in the store for employees, and now all our employees have travel mugs when they buy coffee;
15. We do not give out bags at the store; only have recycled bags if a customer asks for one;
16. We help collect old used bikes for Africa.

Employees

1. Living wage for full time employees
2. Company pays 100% for health care
3. Company contributes to their IRA
4. 3 weeks vacation
5. 5 sick days
6. If they commute by bike they get $20 per month

Community

We serve on the board of  non-profits such as :

1. Co-Founded and on board of Sustainable Bainbridge
2. Co-Founded and on board of Sustainable Business Network
3. Squeaky Wheels
4. Chamber of Commerce
5. Zero Waste

Previous boards:

Community Housing Coalition (Affordable Housing)

Other Community Involvement

1. Co-wrote and helped set up the Community Land Trust
2. Have worked with Hyla to have students train and work in the bike shop for a school program.
3. Sponsored and helped youths get advanced in the bicycle racing world from road racing to cycle-cross and several earned the national champion title.
4. We have sponsored numerous events, non-profits and schools over the years.