ECO STRINGS, GRIPS, & EQUIPMENT
STRINGS
The majority of tennis players tend to use polyester strings for their durability. While this allows you to restring your racquet much less frequently, using natural gut strings is actually more eco-friendly, and will give you better feel on your racquets (which is why natural gut is the most commonly used string type across the pro-tour). Natural gut strings, while made of cow intestines, are made of organic material, making them biodegradable as opposed to petroleum-based plastics (taking thousands of years to decompose). Additionally, natural gut is a by-product of the meat industry, which means that cows are not being killed specifically for the production of strings, but merely to not waste.
One option is an eco-friendly string made by our partner, Velociti Sports, called the Velociti Catalyst. They are a hexagonal co-polyester string made from recycled material. They come in 16G and are 100% biodegradable synthetic, degrading 100x faster than other synthetic strings. Buy them here!
Another great option is made by the renowned Luxilon, called the Luxilon Eco Power. An eco-friendly version of their best-seller, the ALU Power, this string is made from plastic bottles and 100% recycled material. It is considered the first high-performance polyester string of its kind, and it is great for "power, spin, and control." Buy them here!
*Both strings are tested and approved by GreenTennis!
OVERGRIPS - EcoGRIP
Most overgrips that a tennis player will find or use will be made of of polyurethane, also known as PU. However, this material is not biodegradable. EcoGRIP is the world's only eco-friendly, biodegradable tennis overgrip. It is used by many high-performing players and it retains the features from other grips (tacky feel, sweat-absorption, & durability). To learn more about EcoGRIP and their grip or to try one out now, visit: https://www.ecogripzone.com/ecogrip/
RACQUETS - Wilson Naked Series
Wilson is taking a stride in creating a tennis racquet series that helps the environment. First, for every Naked racquet bought, 2,500 trees are planted, which produces enough oxygen for 4 million people. The racquet also uses no toxic paints or dyes, saves over 2 tons of water (~10.8%), uses a biodegradable grip, and comes in 100% cardboard recyclable packaging.
To learn more visit: https://www.wilson.com/en-us/blog/tennis/behind-scenes/six-reasons-feel-good-about-world%E2%80%99s-first-eco-conscious-tennis-racket
To buy, visit: https://www.wilson.com/en-us/explore/tennis/sustainability
APPAREL & SUSTAINABLE BRANDS
Polyester is a synthetic petroleum-based fiber, and is therefore made from a carbon-intensive non-renewable resource. It is not bio-degradable and will persist in the ecosystem even as it eventually breaks apart. One way to avoid this issue is by purchasing sustainable activewear made from recycled plastics or "Eco-Intelligent Polyester," which is infinitely recyclable and can transform old polyester clothing into new polyester.
The following brands are known to be sustainable:
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Adidas Parley Collection (click here)
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Tentree (click here)
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Pact (click here)
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Allbirds (click here)
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REI (click here)
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Patagonia (click here)
OTHER: Tennis Ball Repressurizing Tube
Based in Belgium, Bounce is committed to making a positive footprint on the planet, specifically for tennis and padel. Their product consists of a tube that helps maintain pressurization in tennis balls, eliminating the need to purchase new balls frequently! They also recycle tennis balls and support the "circular" mission.
To learn more visit: https://bouncesports.co/pages/bounce-tennis