As one of the world’s leading bicycle manufacturers, Giant Group is committed to responsible production, particularly in the paints used for decorating and protecting bicycles. The multi-layer coating process required for bicycles often involves traditional solvent-based or oil-based coating, which, though effective, contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – chemicals that easily evaporate and contribute to air pollution and health risks, including respiratory issues. Recognizing the impact of VOCs, Giant Group actively sought alternatives to reduce its environmental footprint by prioritizing eco-friendly, water-based coating and other low-VOCs solutions.

Bicycles are typically coated with five steps: 1) cathodic electro-deposition (CED), 2) primer, 3) basecoat, 4) labeling, and 5) clearcoat. Water-based coating, a more sustainable alternative, uses water as a thinner instead of solvents. Its VOCs emission is 1% of that from water-soluble coatings and 0.1% from solvent-based coatings.

By the end of 2021, our CED, basecoat, and clearcoat layers adopted water-based coating and were applied to over 360,000 bicycles, leading to a reduction of 10,800 kg of VOCs emissions in 2022. This shift reflects Giant Group’s ongoing commitment to environmentally conscious manufacturing.

Giant Group’s commitment to sustainable innovation extends beyond water-based coating. Since 2022, we have gradually introduced powder coating, which has an even lower environmental impact. Powder coating offers high coverage, reducing the number of coating layers required and thereby lowering energy consumption while yielding optimal results. By being solvent-free, powder coating eliminates the need for wastewater or solvent treatment and produces zero VOCs emissions. Another key advantage is that sprayed powders can be recycled, reducing waste, and preventing environmental pollution.

At Giant Group, we began applying powder CED coating for children’s bicycles and commuter bicycles as a pilot initiative. By 2023, we successfully developed powder coating for use across all our affiliated bicycle factories. To date, our existing powder coating production lines have produced 150,000 bicycles, with further expansion planned. This innovation has allowed Giant Group to eliminate two-spraying and two-baking processes from the original procedure, significantly reducing both carbon emissions and VOCs emissions.

Both water-based and powder coatings offer significant environmental benefits compared to traditional oil-based or solvent-based coatings. Water-based coating is effective in reducing VOCs emissions and is easy to apply in multi-layer processes, making it a versatile option for many applications. However, powder coating takes sustainability a step further by being recyclable, more energy-efficient, and producing zero VOCs. While both are valuable eco-friendly alternatives to decorating bicycles, powder coating offers superior performance in terms of the health of factory workers, environmental impact, and operational efficiency.

Since 2015, Giant Group has been committed to adopting eco-friendly coating materials and processes, aiming to reduce energy consumption, emissions, and hazardous waste. In our role as cycling industry leaders, we see it as our responsibility to craft sustainable and accessible modes of transportation without compromising on aesthetics or performance. In 2023, we advanced this mission by eliminating the need for separate primers, incorporating them into the CED or basecoat layers, reducing one baking process, and thereby lowering carbon emissions – all while maintaining high color quality. We also introduced new models featuring the sleek aesthetics of naked carbon fiber, resulting in 85% of our bicycles now requiring fewer than four coating layers. Our target is to reach 100% by 2026. Giant Group is also on track to coat 88% of all bicycles with both water-based and powder coating by 2030.

Through Giant Group’s ongoing innovation, together with our partners, we expect to significantly lower VOCs emissions and energy consumption, reaffirming our commitment to a more sustainable future for cycling and the planet.