Research on methods and strategies of green design carbon reduction for bicycle industry in Taiwan from perspective of product life cycle

Under the trend of environmental protection and carbon reduction, bicycles have become an important component of green urban transportation, and therefore, the net-zero emissions in the manufacturing process of the bicycle industry have become even more important. This study focuses on the green transformation of the bicycle industry in Taiwan and explores the carbon distribution of bicycles through the product life cycle. In order to understand the status of the industry, we invite four senior industry experts and three green design scholars. It conducts research and analysis on green design and carbon reduction in the bicycle industry through expert interviews and grounded theory. In the face of development challenges, we believe that the Taiwan bicycle industry should adopt a systematic approach, carry out phased carbon reduction tasks, and implement product life cycle carbon footprint verification in order to achieve a balance between business models and sustainable operations. In the present study, we formulate preliminary carbon reduction strategies for different-scale enterprises into four stages based on the current status of the industry: (1) product plan, (2) design and development, (3) manufacturing, and (4) collaborative carbon reduction. These strategies can be applied to different production stages of the manufacturer. In addition, we plan a green design carbon reduction flowchart for the bicycle industry from the perspective of life cycle, which allows them to think more comprehensively about product carbon reduction plans. In order to alleviate the international and internal pressure faced by the industry, we have also formulated three countermeasures: (1) risk reduction and increased implementation willingness, (2) transformation of product–service models, and (3) implementation of carbon footprint verification throughout the life cycle. Furthermore, the assembly of bicycle products depends on raw materials and parts from different countries. Therefore, carbon reduction in the bicycle industry is not a goal that can be achieved by single manufacturer or single stakeholder’s efforts. Although this study focuses on the bicycle industry in Taiwan, when facing changes in the international market, it is crucial for enterprises to seize the opportunity to transition timely. The research findings can still provide reference for other countries facing similar challenges. Subsequent studies can also test the methods and strategies proposed in this research in actual industry settings, thereby providing more practical implementation suggestions and promoting green design and carbon reduction in the industry.