ISPO Award Winner 2025: BBB Cycling’s BackStreet LED ERT sets a circular benchmark for urban helmets

With the BackStreet LED ERT, BBB Cycling introduces an urban helmet concept shaped entirely around circularity. Awarded an ISPO Award 2025, the helmet uses a no-glue, modular construction that allows all components to be separated and reclaimed at end of life. Conventional helmets usually rely on fixed bonding between shell, foam and hardware, preventing material recovery. BBB Cycling breaks this pattern by enabling full disassembly without tools, ensuring the reclaimed materials can flow back into proper recycling streams.  

“The Backstreet shows how we keep improving as riders and designers. Its sustainable, easily recycled RMR construction and materials, ERT pads, and rechargeable LED light make everyday riding safer, and more enjoyable,” said Tjerk Bakker, Senior Product Manager, BBB Cycling. The product demonstrates that safety equipment can combine robust protection with genuine end-of-life responsibility, aligning with long-term sustainability goals for city mobility. 

Every material used in the BackStreet LED ERT—rABS, rEPS and rPET—was selected for its recyclability, allowing the helmet to maintain a closed-loop logic across shell, foam and internal fittings. The snap-fit construction eliminates adhesives, enabling components to be separated cleanly and sorted into their respective streams. This approach reduces waste generation over the full lifecycle and provides a verifiable sustainability narrative for consumers and retailers.  

A removable, rechargeable LED module enhances visibility in low-light conditions while remaining fully recyclable. At the core of its safety concept is ERT™ (energy reduction technology), a patented low-density polymer developed by scientists and validated through independent lab testing. The layer is engineered to manage rotational and low-velocity linear impact energy and can also be reclaimed. With PFAS-free materials and solution-based coloration in several elements, the helmet reflects a systems-level mindset where each part contributes to lower resource use and improved circular performance. 

The BackStreet LED ERT targets urban commuters and e-bike riders who require reliable visibility, robust safety performance and daily-use comfort. The integrated LED is positioned for optimal rearward visibility during darker winter months and can be removed for charging or daytime riding. An optional ear protector kit adds warmth and reduces traffic noise, and is easily removable for the Summer months. Ventilation and low-profile shaping support comfort in stop-and-go traffic, while the lightweight construction suits riders navigating mixed environments from bike lanes to shared paths.  

The modular system not only benefits recyclability but also supports straightforward part replacement, extending functional use over time. Retailers gain a clear value proposition: a helmet that avoids landfill, complies with rigorous safety validation and responds to rising interest in sustainable mobility equipment. The product fits city riders who want to reduce environmental impact without compromising safety or ease of use. 

The BackStreet LED ERT reflects BBB Cycling’s ambition to design safety equipment that respects the full product lifecycle. The helmet’s ability to be completely disassembled and recycled, combined with its rechargeable lighting and ERT impact layer, creates a balanced offering that addresses both immediate safety needs and long-term environmental considerations. For retailers, the helmet communicates a mature sustainability profile supported by material transparency. For consumers, it offers a practical solution for everyday mobility that avoids unnecessary waste at end of life. The ISPO Award 2025 acknowledges the BackStreet LED ERT as a compelling blueprint for circular design in the cycling sector. 

• Modular, glue-free construction for full recyclability
• rABS, rEPS and rPET materials support closed-loop recovery
• Removable, rechargeable LED for winter visibility
• ERT low-density layer for rotational energy management