Sustainability Series: Foldable Bike Helmet
Published 7th August 2025
Bike safety is something young people can relate to, whether they cycle themselves or are learning about road safety and personal responsibility. With more pupils using bikes and e-scooters, now is a great time to explore how design and technology can make everyday travel safer and more sustainable.
Reimagining the bike helmet
The Newlane helmet is a UK-designed, foldable cycling helmet that offers a practical solution to a common problem: traditional helmets are safe, but bulky and difficult to carry. This innovative product folds to half its size (just 81mm in height), making it easy to slip into a school bag, rucksack or laptop case.
Despite its compact form, the helmet meets strict European safety standards (EN 1078), and it’s been thoroughly tested to perform across a range of conditions.
Classroom links to real-world STEM learning
The Newlane helmet opens up valuable classroom discussion across several curriculum areas:
• Design and technology – modern materials, user-centred design, testing and iteration
• STEM – physics of impact, structural design, testing under extreme conditions
• Citizenship & PSHE – road safety, sustainable travel, personal responsibility
Safety, testing and performance
What makes this helmet stand out is how it balances convenience with strong safety credentials. Under EN 1078 testing, it records an average impact result of just 134G, well below the 250G maximum. Its honeycomb structure helps disperse energy in the event of a crash.
It’s tested after being frozen, heated and UV aged – mimicking real-world use – and includes a secure retention system and full field of vision.
Designed with sustainability in mind
Made from recycled plastic and fully recyclable at end-of-life, the Newlane helmet reflects a modern approach to responsible design. It’s lightweight (just 470g) and manufactured in the UK, reducing transport emissions.
It’s a great example for pupils to study when discussing the life cycle of products, sustainable materials, and design for reuse or recyclability.
Made in the UK and already making waves
The Newlane helmet is proudly made in the UK and has already attracted attention in the cycling and mobility world:
• Brompton Bike Hire placed an order before it even launched
• Smartech at Selfridges is stocking it as part of their innovation range
• Troubadour have partnered with Newlane to show how great design fits into a stylish, eco-conscious lifestyle
Download the article to use in your classroom
You can download the PDF version of this magazine article below to share with your students, use in lessons, or keep for future inspiration.
Want the full issue of Designing?
This article features in Designing magazine, issue 129. You can buy the full issue via the link below, packed with inspiring, practical content to support your teaching. Buy Designing 129
Ready to use in your teaching?
Everything on this page is here to support you in bringing the subject to life in the classroom. Whether you're focusing on design and technology, materials and manufacturing, or simply helping pupils think more about safety and sustainability, there's something here for you.
‘Inspired by Industry’ – real-world contexts for your classroom
To extend this topic even further, why not explore the ‘Inspired by Industry’ teaching materials? Developed with leading design and manufacturing companies, these resources help you bring real-life industry contexts into your Key Stage 3 teaching.
One brilliant link to this article is the Pure Electric context, which challenges pupils to consider the question: how can we carry cargo on bikes, scooters or other relevant methods of transport? It’s an excellent way to build on conversations around personal safety, sustainable travel, and product innovation.
The ‘Inspired by Industry’ curriculum support documents are completely free and available to all teachers. They’ve been created to help you deliver each context confidently, with new materials being added regularly to keep your teaching fresh and relevant. Explore the Pure Electric context here.
If you're a member of the Design & Technology Association, you also have access a growing library of exclusive, ready-to-use, member only content to enhance your teaching.
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