Head has developed a new tennis ball can that is much more environmentally friendly and will soon replace the familiar golden Head cans. They contain less plastic and are easier to recycle. A sample test carried out in collaboration with Austrian recycling company Saubermacher showed that up to ten times more CO2 can be saved than with the previous cans. The new cans feature recycled PET, a shorter sleeve, less ink and brighter colors. All of this is to ensure that the cans are easier to recycle. The redesign of the new ball can is part of the Head Rethink sustainability initiative.
Simon Brenneis, Head’s Business Manager for Balls and Shoes, said, “What we’ve now done is reduce the length of the sleeve by nearly 50 percent, which means the cans will now be detected for recycling. That, in turn, means much more recycling can take place, and more resources will be saved. The availability of new compounds and materials, as well as advances in recycling and machinery, means the new ball can move up the recycling pyramid from being incinerated to fully recycled. All that is now needed is for players and clubs to ensure the cans find their way to the recycling so the full environmental benefits are realized.”
