In a world where fast-fashion is increasingly decried, how is the sporting goods industry adapting and reinventing its product life cycle? What are the environmental and social issues involved in sporting goods production?
The French are major consumers of sports equipment, spending almost 9 billion euros a year on jerseys, shoes and other technical apparel.
In a world where fast-fashion is increasingly decried, how is the sporting goods industry adapting and reinventing its product life cycle? What are the environmental and social issues involved in sporting goods production?
From raw materials to transport, recycling and the place of production, the supply chain of equipment manufacturers must evolve and move towards decarbonization and zero waste. Brands have understood this new challenge, and are increasingly adopting an eco-design approach, favoring organic cotton or recycled polyester.
The Nolt brand offers sportswear made with recycled fabrics from plastic waste and non-toxic inks.
Based in Nice, Nolt is France's first 100% circular sports equipment manufacturer. All their equipment is made from recycled, reused or ecological materials, with products and manufacturing exclusively in Europe.
The idea came from Olivier Guigonis and Paul-Emmanuel Guinard, who wanted to make eco-responsible products available to amateur clubs at low prices, thanks to a short circuit. Their production facilities in Portugal enable them to reduce the distance and cost of transport, while ensuring complete traceability. Here's the proof.
They are made-to-measure and fully customizable, for soccer, rugby, basketball, volleyball, handball and racquet sports. The packaging in which the equipment is sent is also made from entirely recycled cardboard or plastic.
But this aspect is not limited to their sportswear ranges; for Paul-Emmanuel "it's even more than recycled, it's the circular that needs to be developed".
The circular R-Shape project, winner of Refashion's Innovation Challenge 2020, enables the brand to collect old textile equipment from clubs, for sorting and recycling. Equipment in good condition is donated to young sports academies in developing countries, while that which cannot be recycled is melted down and transformed into technical equipment.
The cups will go on sale in spring 2022, offered by the brand and its distributors. Decathlon Belgium, in particular, is offering its customers the chance to drop off their used shirts for recycling via the R-Shape project.
Ultimately, the R-Shape project aims to cover all the technical equipment needed for a club: hoops, milestones, goals, etc.
The Outfitter brand has also launched its Ocean Fabric range, offering sports equipment made from plastic bottles collected and recycled in coastal areas.
Adidas aims to switch all its ranges to recycled polyester by 2024.
Today, this polyester is already present in product ranges including footwear, clothing and other equipment such as shin guards and bags.
Since 2015, the 3-stripes brand has been working with Parlez, whose aim is to protect the oceans. The aim is to integrate marine plastic debris into adidas products, via plastic recycling.
A new signatory to the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, the brand has set itself the target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.
The market's other giant is offering a new production circuit: Move to Zero.
With this collection, made from a blend of recycled polyester and sustainable cotton, Nike is aiming for a zero-waste, zero-carbon future via a circular project.
For the Tokyo Olympics, the brand dressed its athletes in recycled polyester. They reworked the Windrunner jacket and the design of the national team logos, now in recycled rubber, with a mesh lining in recycled polyester.
The brand's goal is to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement, while powering its facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2025.
We observe that the sports equipment market has become aware of its carbon footprint and has adapted its production channels.
While smaller, more agile organizations have (re)invented their offering around the circular, the sector's behemoths have also made commitments to decarbonize their production.
At act for sport, we distribute over 30,000 jersey, shorts and sock kits a year. As a player in this market, we have a responsibility to encourage this movement. By 2022, 90% of the kits we distribute will incorporate recycled polyester, whether via the adidas ranges (Estro, Entrada) or the Nolt ranges.
The French are major consumers of sports equipment, spending almost 9 billion euros a year on jerseys, shoes and other technical apparel.
In a world where fast-fashion is increasingly decried, how is the sporting goods industry adapting and reinventing its product life cycle? What are the environmental and social issues involved in sporting goods production?
From raw materials to transport, recycling and the place of production, the supply chain of equipment manufacturers must evolve and move towards decarbonization and zero waste. Brands have understood this new challenge, and are increasingly adopting an eco-design approach, favoring organic cotton or recycled polyester.
The Nolt brand offers sportswear made with recycled fabrics from plastic waste and non-toxic inks.
Based in Nice, Nolt is France's first 100% circular sports equipment manufacturer. All their equipment is made from recycled, reused or ecological materials, with products and manufacturing exclusively in Europe.
The idea came from Olivier Guigonis and Paul-Emmanuel Guinard, who wanted to make eco-responsible products available to amateur clubs at low prices, thanks to a short circuit. Their production facilities in Portugal enable them to reduce the distance and cost of transport, while ensuring complete traceability. Here's the proof.
They are made-to-measure and fully customizable, for soccer, rugby, basketball, volleyball, handball and racquet sports. The packaging in which the equipment is sent is also made from entirely recycled cardboard or plastic.
But this aspect is not limited to their sportswear ranges; for Paul-Emmanuel "it's even more than recycled, it's the circular that needs to be developed".
The circular R-Shape project, winner of Refashion's Innovation Challenge 2020, enables the brand to collect old textile equipment from clubs, for sorting and recycling. Equipment in good condition is donated to young sports academies in developing countries, while that which cannot be recycled is melted down and transformed into technical equipment.
The cups will go on sale in spring 2022, offered by the brand and its distributors. Decathlon Belgium, in particular, is offering its customers the chance to drop off their used shirts for recycling via the R-Shape project.
Ultimately, the R-Shape project aims to cover all the technical equipment needed for a club: hoops, milestones, goals, etc.
The Outfitter brand has also launched its Ocean Fabric range, offering sports equipment made from plastic bottles collected and recycled in coastal areas.
Adidas aims to switch all its ranges to recycled polyester by 2024.
Today, this polyester is already present in product ranges including footwear, clothing and other equipment such as shin guards and bags.
Since 2015, the 3-stripes brand has been working with Parlez, whose aim is to protect the oceans. The aim is to integrate marine plastic debris into adidas products, via plastic recycling.
A new signatory to the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, the brand has set itself the target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.
The market's other giant is offering a new production circuit: Move to Zero.
With this collection, made from a blend of recycled polyester and sustainable cotton, Nike is aiming for a zero-waste, zero-carbon future via a circular project.
For the Tokyo Olympics, the brand dressed its athletes in recycled polyester. They reworked the Windrunner jacket and the design of the national team logos, now in recycled rubber, with a mesh lining in recycled polyester.
The brand's goal is to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement, while powering its facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2025.
We observe that the sports equipment market has become aware of its carbon footprint and has adapted its production channels.
While smaller, more agile organizations have (re)invented their offering around the circular, the sector's behemoths have also made commitments to decarbonize their production.
At act for sport, we distribute over 30,000 jersey, shorts and sock kits a year. As a player in this market, we have a responsibility to encourage this movement. By 2022, 90% of the kits we distribute will incorporate recycled polyester, whether via the adidas ranges (Estro, Entrada) or the Nolt ranges.
