The power of recycling sports kit...
Small actions like handing down an outgrown football shirt to a younger sibling or donating an unused hockey stick or tennis racket to a club might not seem like huge steps, but they can be massively impactful when done collectively.
The toll that the sport and leisure sector takes on the environment is no secret, so it’s vital that we take action to combat our activities’ negative effects – as individuals, as well as organisations.
If you think that change is out of reach as an individual, there are plenty of practises you can undertake to play your part.
From walking, cycling or even carpooling to matches and training sessions rather than driving individually, to ensuring that all your waste is taken back with you after participating in outdoor activities; there are plenty of ways to support positive environmental change.
And one of those is recycling and reusing sports equipment and kit.
Did you know that…
- It can take over a century for sports clothing to biodegrade.
The materials that dominate sportswear are synthetic and can take over 1,000 years to decompose, while materials such as Lycra will never decompose.
- Trainers will decompose in around 1,000 years.
That’s how long it takes ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), used as a midsole in many sports shoes, to decompose; by comparison, the average lifespan of a pair of trainers is just four to six months.
- 98% of sports equipment ends up in landfill or incineration.
This is the fate of all carbon polymer waste in the UK. Carbon can be found in bicycle frames, helmets, golf clubs, tennis rackets, skis, hockey sticks, oars, and even the soles of rugby or football boots.
It’s easy to see how sport and leisure – whether it be professional sports clubs, national organisations, or just us as individuals – contributes to the negative effects on the environment.
It’s vital that we take action to drive behavioural change across the board. As individuals, simply recycling and reusing sporting equipment and kit is a great way to start.
Find just a few projects and organisations that you can help by donating your unwanted kit and equipment: