Western Region Finalists for the Air, Water, and Waste category go on the the CTO’s Global Forum to compete for the $250,000 Grand Prize

PRESS RELEASE

Skip  To  Renew  named

Regional  Finalist  in  2012  Cleantech  Open

Skip To Renew, a Bay Area cleantech company, became the Western Region Finalist in the Air, Water, and Waste category of the 2012 Cleantech Open. Skip To Renew develops petroleum-free, non-toxic, and biodegradable lubricants for industrial applications, while striving to use 100% plant and algae oils cultivated in the US. Their passion is reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions and accidental toxic releases associated with the spills and burning of conventional petroleum-based lubricants.

The firm won $20,000 in cash and in-kind services as they proceed to the Cleantech Open Global Forum, to be held November 8-9 in Santa Clara, CA. “This has been a great opportunity to work with major industry players. It gives our startup the chance to make a real difference at large scale, enabling companies to skip the petroleum and skip the toxins” says Skip To Renew Co-Founder Janine Elliott.

Since its inception in 2010, Skip To Renew has gained nation-wide distribution for the Re:cyclist line, a collection of bio-based, non-toxic, and biodegradable bicycle lubricants including a race-day formula, a road bike formula and a water soluble grease. Skip To Renew’s most recent product to reach the market is a bio-based hydraulic fluid [link: http://www.skiptorenew.com/industrial/] for industrial hydraulics, lifts, trucks and manufacturing equipment. “The benefits of our hydraulic fluids extend beyond our dedicated mission of creating bio-based, non-toxic and biodegradable products,” says Jonathan Mooney, CFO and Co-Founder of Skip To Renew. “Our bio-based hydraulic fluid has a higher oxidation stability and a higher lubricity than its petroleum counterpart. This means less wear and tear on mechanical equipment.”

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ABOUT  SKIP  TO  RENEW

Skip To Renew is a San Francisco Bay Area company dedicated to producing high performance bio-based, non-toxic, and biodegradable industrial lubrication products. Founded by 3 graduates of the Green MBA at Dominican University of CA in 2010, Skip To Renew’s dedication to sustainability is matched with a spirit of entrepreneurship and a commitment to affecting positive social and environmental change. It has won recognition for its efforts, having been a Finalist in the Dutch 2012 Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, and Runner-up in the 2011 Sustainable Brands Innovation Open. For further information, visit the Skip To Renew website at www.skiptorenew.com

ABOUT  THE  CLEANTECH  OPEN

The mission of the Cleantech Open is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges. Founded in 2006 by Silicon Valley leaders, the organization has established itself as the leading force for accelerating clean technology entrepreneurs, covering 7 regions across the US. Of the nearly 600 companies they have worked with, 80% remain viable today and they have gone on to raise external capital exceeding $660 million.

By developing a network of more than 1,500 professional volunteers who are willing to lend time and expertise to entrepreneurs who may otherwise not be able to get their ideas off the ground, the Cleantech Open facilitates the growth of the cleantech industry and all the positive impact that will come from such technologies.

Here is your link to the August 2012 issue Digital Edition of Cycle California! Magazine. You can also pick up a copy at over 800 locations in northern California and northern Nevada.

http://www.cyclecalifornia.com/CycleCAAug2012.pdf

Enjoy the RIDE!

Now some of you may be wondering, what is a criterium? Well, a criterium  is the most common form of American racing, and is usually a mile or less in length. Criterium races can last for a few hours, with cyclists pedaling at 30 mph and up.–Stacy Ditta

It felt great participating in a fun-filled, local event!

So what did Kyle do? He got on his bike.

On a beautiful spring day, 300 people congregated in the town of Davis, California to participate and raise funds for Ride Ataxia, a program of the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). FARA is a “national, public, 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to curing Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) through research.” This disease roughly affects 1 in 50,000 people in the United States. Currently there is no cure but there are promising clinical trials of drugs that will slow the progression of the disease.

FARA’s mission is to “marshal and focus the resources and relationships needed to cure FA by raising funds for research, promoting public awareness, and aligning scientists, patients, clinicians, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and other organizations dedicated to curing FA and related diseases.” Their motto is “Educate-Enable-Empower.”

Kyle is the founder and director of Ride Ataxia and the National Ambassador for FARA. Ride Ataxia is an annual cycling fundraiser hosted in cities throughout the United States. Rides nationwide have raised over $1.6 Million since 2007.

As the National Ambassador of FARA, Kyle tours the country speaking at sponsored events and schools to raise funds for FARA. Kyle’s charismatic, courageous, and earnest character embody his dedication to raise funds to find a cure. With a degree in environmental engineering from UC Davis, Kyle worked with an environmental engineering firm for years only to find that his true calling was to work with the FARA. The Ataxian, a documentary about Kyle and his ride to find a cure, will be released in the near future. You can view the trailer of this video here.

Skip to Renew is proud to support Kyle, Ride Ataxia, and empowerment through healthy living and cycling.

To find out more information or donate to Ride Ataxia, please visit rideataxia.org.

We are always striving to reduce our reliance on non-renewable chemical products. A recent batch of Everyday/All Conditions Formula bike chain lube was treated with a new additive that causes it to malfunction when applied to bike chains. Early product testing indicated that the lube performed as desired, but over time, samples taken from of this batch became problematic.

To be honest, this one batch could gunk up your chain.

We deeply regret this error and have already taken the necessary steps to make sure it never happens again. Climate Ride volunteers who received a donated bottle or customers who’ve had problems can contact us at: janine@skiptorenew.com

How do you know if your bottle

may contain

less-than-ideal lube?

It is the Everyday Formula (white label), very pale yellow color with white-ish sediment at the bottom. Once you’ve contacted us, please empty it in the trash or compost (it’s non-toxic and biodegradable) and recycle the bottle.

Since 2008, Climate Ride has been a non-profit organization that organizes fully supported, charitable bike rides to support sustainable energy solutions, bike advocacy, and environmental causes.  Each year, Climate Ride holds two week-long events:  Climate Ride NYC-DC in May and Climate Ride California in September. “This will be our biggest ride yet, and the largest charitable ride for the environment ever,” said Caeli Quinn, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Climate Ride. “It’s amazing that we had 200 people this year commit to pedaling more than 300 miles to Washington to make a statement, while at the same time raising money for their favorite green organizations. Last year, we were able grant 29 organizations a total of $300,000 to support their critical work, and this year we hope to raise nearly $1 million.” According to www.climateride.org, participation for the NYC-DC ride increased 70% over last year.

“We’re really excited to be partnering with Skip to Renew. No petroleum, no toxins. Their chain lube couldn’t be more appropriate for our Climate Riders’ bikes!” said Geraldine Carter, Executive Director of the Climate Ride.  Founded in 2011, Skip to Renew develops plant and algae-based lubricants for machinery, from their Re:Cyclist Bike Chain Lube to a bio-hydraulic fluid.

Skip To Renew is driven by the fact that approximately 50% of used machine lubricants end up in the environment, contaminating the air, water and soil with carcinogens such as cadmium, chromium, and lead.  Combustion of used oils is common, releasing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. “By working with the Climate Ride, we show that everyone can participate in a sustainable, healthy economy.  Individual cyclists are living healthier lifestyles and using green products in order to take a stand against climate change and petroleum use. At the same time, we provide alternatives to heavy machinery operators who are using thousands of gallons a year, who might not have the same public visibility but also have the power to make an impact,” says Skip To Renew Co-Founder Janine Elliott.

Try our grease on your:

1. Pressing Head Cups
2. Bottom Bracket Shells
3. Pedal Threads
4. Steering Tubes

Happy riding!