Wilson Sporting Goods, part of Amer Sports, is introducing the Gen Green collection to celebrate a new generation of the game and their commitment to planet Earth. The Gen Green range comprises basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls made from more sustainable materials. The collection includes six different balls: The NBA Forge Plus Eco and NBA DRV Pro Eco (basketball); NFL Stride Pro Eco and NFL Ignition Pro Eco (American football); Shoreline Eco (volleyball); and NCAA Vantage (football). The Gen Green range utilizes repurposed plastic, recycled rubber and bio-based sugarcane throughout the collection, the company said. The biobased I’m green material, developed by Braskem, is made from sugarcane through ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). This material has never been used in sports equipment before, claims Wilson. Based on internal testing conducted by ACV Brasil, the EVA in the Gen Green collection generates two times fewer CO2 emissions than conventional EVA. Wilson added that select Gen Green products comprise the equivalent of at least 2.75 repurposed plastic water bottles.
