Green Your Game: A “Plastic-Free Sports” Approach
At the start of 2025, many of us are looking to enhance our physical and mental health while reducing our environmental impact. The good news is that these goals can go hand in hand if you want to have a healthy, active plastic-free lifestyle.
Let’s take a look at how a “plastic free sports approach” can become more achievable in our chosen activities, and allow us to stay at the top of our game this year and in the future.
Environmental Impact of Sports
The negative impact that sport has on the environment is well documented. From synthetic jerseys to plastic water bottles, and disposable equipment to artificial turf, sports contribute significantly to global waste. For example, each day in the US people discard more than 60 million plastic water bottles. With 80% of them ending up in landfill, these plastic bottles can take up to a staggering 450 years to decompose.
Meanwhile, for far too many years, traditional sporting equipment and practices have been far from plastic-free, relying heavily on environmentally-harmful materials, including:
- synthetic rubber from discarded running shoes
- toxic PVC compounds in exercise mats and gym flooring
- chemical-laden neoprene in wetsuits
- volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from artificial turf
- heavy metals from climbing gear
- petroleum-based polyurethane (PU) in basketballs and footballs
Historically, the sporting goods industry has also prioritized performance and durability over environmental concerns, leading to widespread use of non-biodegradable materials. For instance, tennis rackets typically use synthetic materials like carbon fiber composites and polyester strings. Tennis balls made from rubber compounds with the yellow felt that can’t easily biodegrade. Therefore, each year, approximately 125 million tennis balls end up in landfills with companies keen to encourage players to recycle balls.
When it comes to jogging, the footwear industry has been another contributor to plastic waste. Modern running shoes often contain EVA foam, synthetic rubber, and various plastics in their construction. A typical running shoe can take hundreds of years to decompose (if not up to thousand!) while swimming gear made from synthetic materials like nylon and spandex is known to release microplastics into water systems and even the human food chain.
Related: 11 Plastic-free Underwear Brand You Can Compost
Green Approach to Being Active: Chose Sustainable Sports Gear
Being active and green is possible for anyone – from aspiring athletes and those learning to play a new game in 2025, to those just starting out on a more active routine. Whether you’re taking up padel tennis, jogging each day, or interested in how eco-friendly golf is, the sporting industry is taking a greener approach to mitigate environmental damage. New and unique plastic-free sport initiatives, such as a range of recycling programs and eco-conscious retail solutions, are helping to elevate and improve its sustainable image.
Indeed, there has been a growing awareness of environmental issues in the sporting world. Whether it’s hydrating with tap water rather than single-use bottles, or opting for sustainable gymwear, there are multiple green options out there, such as plastic-free active wear and items made from natural materials rather than synthetic ones. These might be bamboo cricket bats, or organic cotton sports clothing or plastic-free yoga mats. Other reputable active wear options sell everything from plastic-free bras to workout wardrobes manufactured with minimal damage to the environment.
Today, many clothing brands also offer a circular approach like repair services and provide guidance on wash bags to prevent microplastic pollution during washing. Consider donating and recycling used sporting items, while investing in high-quality, durable equipment, footwear, and clothing that reduces the need for frequent replacement. Look for gear made from recycled materials, such as footballs manufactured from ocean plastic, and where possible, support brands and companies with strong environmental commitments.
Related: 10 Plastic-free Sunscreen Brands for a Healthier You and Ocean
Less Plastic, More Sport: Adopting Plastic-free Solutions at Sports Events
In general, the elimination of single-use plastics from stadiums and water refill stations are going a long way to help reduce plastic waste, with a continuous push for programs at both national and local level events.
For example, the US Tennis Open’s Polo Ralph Lauren ball crew Polos will be made from yarn derived from recycled plastic bottles, while their tennis ball cans have shifted to a four ball fill with no label, reducing the amount of plastic by half. During 2024, Evian as one of the sponsors also made all the tournament’s bottles out of 100% recycled plastic.
In addition, the Phoenix Open in the US is now regarded as one of the largest zero waste sporting events in the world. This event also works in tandem with tournament vendors and the PGA TOUR to divert 100% of waste from the landfill through recycling, composting, donation and energy conversion.
In Australia, it was great to see the Australian Open (AO 2025) partner with Sustainability Victoria serving up 38,000 reusable cups at this major global tennis event to avoid 50,000 single-use plastic cups (roughly the equivalent of 400kg) going to waste and encourage reuse behaviour. These cups have been supplied by Melbourne-based bettercup, and are washed on site by a team from Green My Plate, a social enterprise that supplies reusable plates, bowls, cups, mugs, and staff with the goal to eliminate single-use plastics at functions and events.
Adopting plastic-free sport solutions can be done across many popular forms of exercise, from running and swimming to cycling and golf. Running and marathon events are installing water stations that encourage runners to bring their own environmentally friendly water bottles. Similarly, running shoes are increasingly made from recycled materials. Virtual racing options help reduce travel-related emissions.
Swimming venues and equipment manufacturers are also embracing eco-friendly practices, with pools increasingly switching to renewable energy and brands using innovative solutions, such as recycling ocean plastic to produce goggles and swimming costumes, though for us, the real solutions are ones that are plastic free and do not shed microplastics!
Related: Why You should Avoid Plastic Water Bottles
Sustainability in Sport: Pros Leading by Example
The global promotion of plastic-free sport initiatives has helped to lead the way in innovative sustainable solutions to both professional athletes and members of the public. A typical NFL game leaves behind an incredible 35 tons of waste and huge stadium events like the Super Bowl accounting for 50 or 60 tons. Therefore, extra pressure has been placed on professional sports organizations to recognize that they have a responsibility to play a part in protecting the environment. Major US sports leagues and teams are increasingly stepping up to the mark and implementing environmental initiatives, such as:
- The NBA has launched “NBA Green” which includes installing solar panels at arenas and using recycled materials in team merchandise.
- MLB has been a pioneer with its “Green Glove Award,” recognizing teams with the highest recycling rates.
- The NFL’s Super Bowl has committed to sustainable practices, including powering events with renewable energy and donating unused prepared food to local shelters.
- NASCAR, despite its traditionally high environmental impact, has created a recycling program for automotive fluids and tires, while also implementing solar power at several speedways. They’ve also switched to cleaner-burning fuel blends to reduce emissions.
Such positive initiatives across the high-profile global sporting arena raise the profile of plastic-free sport, driving progress for athletes, members of the public, and associated sporting industries. Active campaigns promote environmentally friendly approaches at everyday competitive matches, inspiring participants, brands and retailers alike.
High-profile sporting games like 2024’s most sustainable Olympic Games in Paris not only play a major part in limiting and mitigating the negative impact of sport on the environment, but are also well positioned on a global platform to publicize to fans and the wider industry that a plastic free sports approach will impact even more the sustainability strategy of the sporting community in the future.
Final Thought: A Greener Sporting World is Possible
Making small changes to the way you enjoy pursuing your exercise of choice can help you achieve a healthy lifestyle throough a plastic free sports approach. Regardless of your favoured form or level of exercise, every sustainable choice you make will help in creating a cleaner, greener sporting world.
