Whether you’re launching your own startup or trying to get your first book published, Kickstarter is a great platform to raise money from individuals – not professional investors or venture capitalists – for creative projects related to music, film, art, technology, design, food and of course, sustainability. Here’s Earth911’s picks for the five most interesting eco-minded campaigns on Kickstarter this week.
1. Upcycled bike chain bracelets
The average bicycle shop produces 25-40 pounds of waste bike chains per month, according to Ben Gould, industrial designer and inventor. But Gould has found a stylish new use for this leftover material, degreasing the chains with biodegradable agents and upcycling them into colorful, accordion-like bracelets.
Gould launched a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter to take his local project to the national level. First, he plans to set up a network of bike shops across the country that will commit to sending him their unwanted bike chains; a portion of Kickstarter donations will be used to pay the cost of shipping this material to Gould.
He’ll also use contributions to build better forging tools so he can process a large volume of bike chains and to electroplate some bracelets in chrome, silver and gold for customers who want “unparalleled bling.”
Kickstarter Project to Turn Reclaimed Wood into Stylish Furniture, Housewares
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Green Guru Gear Gives Trashed Sports Equipment New Life