Introduction
What is Renewaball? Renewaballs are high-performance, circular tennis, and padel balls. That means: made from old/used tennis and padel balls. So, old tennis and padel ball materials are now also the raw material for new Renewaball balls. Renewaballs are pressurized balls. Made in Europe. For production, we use old/used tennis and padel balls which we collect from tennis and padel clubs all around the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and, soon, the rest of Europe.
The felt of a Renewaball is 100% organic: wool, and cotton. They are packaged with either 3 (padel, tennis) or 4 (tennis) balls in a 100% recyclable pressurized tube. They aren't really more expensive than other high-performance balls and they are great balls to play with. Why? Well, because they play well, but also because they don't pollute. Renewaball is the name of our company, too.
Where does Renewaball get its raw materials from?
We get our feedstock from both tennis and padel players who throw their old/used balls in a Renewaball collection container, which we collect and empty when full. We separate all of them, no matter the brand, into felt and rubber. The felt is recycled (but not in Renewaball as a Renewaball does not contain polyester or nylon) and the rubber is used as raw material for new Renewaballs.
What's wrong with a 'regular' tennis ball?
Tennis and padel balls are very harmful to the environment. This is not common knowledge, not everyone realizes this, but it is really is a problem.
- They are almost exclusively made in South East Asia, far from where we play tennis and padel. They are produced under working conditions that often do not match our demands.
- The components of a tennis ball also come from all over the world: A tennis and padel ball has typically traveled about 80,000 km before it comes out of the package in Europe. Think of all that marine diesel, kerosene, CO2.
- Wear on a tennis and padel ball consists of a trail of thousands of plastic microparticles that fly off the polyester/nylon fibre components in the felt layer. Those particles are more than likely to end up in the well-known plastic soup.
- At the end of a tennis and padel ball’s life, few of them end up on a tow bar at the end of a car or in a dog's mouth. Recycling a tennis and padel ball never fully worked: the rubber and the felt were practically inseparable. And that's why about 97% of tennis and padel balls still end up in the garbage heap - and don't decay. Or of course, in waste incineration. Under the felt layer is rubber and anyone who has ever seen a car tire burn knows that there is nothing nice about black rubber burning.
- There are a lot of tennis and padel balls on this planet. We use over 5.5 million per year in the Netherlands alone. The US Open single-handedly spins 85,000 balls, Wimbledon 54,000, Roland Garros 65,000 and this is all per tournament!
Who are Renewaball tennis and padel made for?
For tennis and padel players who not only want to play with a high performance ball but also care about environmental pollution and climate change while at the same time continue playing with a good ball. As a result, working towards UN Sustainable Development Goals 12, 13, and 14.
For associations, groups, and clubs that would like to contribute to society by ensuring that balls used at their locations no longer end up in the garbage heap or the incinerator. All they have to do is place a Renewaball collection container somewhere around the club people can through their used balls in, no matter the brand. As a result, they also reduce their overall yearly waste and besides, they can of course also sell Renewaballs – making Renewaball even more circular.
But above all: Renewaballs are produced to contribute to a cleaner world and provide our own part of the solution to the serious climate problems that exist today.
Are the Renewaball tennis and padel balls gas-pressurized?
Yes. Gas-filled and suitable for all types of courts. Packed in a 100% recyclable pressurized tube.
How do they play?
Renewaball has asked this question to a few good tennis players, including professinal trainers and players. Their feedback is as follows: a nice lively ball, fast, a fraction lighter (about 2 grams) than the balls we usually play with, which are a bit stiffer. Soft on the strings, good touch. Plays comfortably and is nice and durable. The fact that it is a little lighter (within ITF standards of course) would reduce the risk of injury. The Renewaball padel balls last about twice as long as any other padel ball due to their felt being woven, not punched. We also get fed back that one can smash this ball really well and play it outside the court.
Are the Renewaball Padel balls IPF approved?
Yes. The Renewaball padel ball is certified by the IFP (International Padel Federation) for professional use.
Are the Renewaball Tennis balls ITF approved?
Yes. Renewaball is an ITF (International Tennis Federation) certified ball as of January, 2023.
Where are the Renewaball tennis and padel balls made?
Renewaballs are made in Western Europe. By a small factory that has been making tennis balls for many decades. Real experts.
Where are the Renewaballs for sale?
Online delivery all over Europe through www.renewaball.com. Now for sale at several tennis and padel clubs in the Netherlands. Our Renewaballs are also available at Intersport, Tennisdirect and Bol.com.
We do not deliver outside Europe. We probably won't, until we can source & produce locally.
Is there no plastic in a Renewaball at all?
No. What is in them: Natural rubber and synthetic rubber. The felt layer is made of sheep wool from English and Norwegian sheep - and a tiny bit of cotton.
Are the Renewaballs made from 100% used tennis balls?
No, 100% is not possible, that is not feasible. This is how it works:
First the felt. The felt layer of a Renewaball is made of wool with a little cotton. We can recognize this felt layer during collection and reuse it. But the felt layer of 'normal' balls is made of wool and nylon/polyester. We reuse that - but not for the Renewaball because it has an organic felt layer. By the way: the 100% organic felt of the Renewaball is woven in a felt factory where a lot of 'normal' tennis ball felt is made, with wool, nylon, and polyester. This means that in theory, our biological felt could contain traces of nylon or polyester.
Then the rubber, by far the main part of a tennis and padel ball. The percentage of the Renewaball that is made from old balls is now 25% but ever increasing; however, it will always have to contain some ‘virgin rubber.’
Based on rapidly advancing proprietary technology, Renewaball is increasingly able to identify old, worn balls by brand and ball type. This is necessary to know what the 'ingredients' of each specific ball are - and what still needs to be added to make it a real Renewaball. We expect it'll take about a year and a half to substantially raise the used-rubber percentage. But it does cap off; as mentioned before there will always be some ‘virgin rubber’ and some other components.
But every Renewaball is 100% recyclable!
Do the Renewaballs have disadvantages?
Yes, we have been able to discover one so far. Our felt is made entirely of wool, this was the case for all tennis balls until sometime in the early 1960s. Wool plays well, it is durable, and biodegradable. The felt of every other tennis ball brand also contains nylon/polyester. This absorbs less moisture than wool. So, on a wet outdoor court, the Renewaball may become a little bit slower than a 'normal' ball.
If tennis and padel balls are so bad for the environment, why has it taken so long to come up with a more sustainable option?
We do not know why other brands have not come up with this kind of innovation before; however, this is what we do know:
To make a tennis or padel ball from used tennis or padel balls, you need to collect used balls. That is quite a logistical operation, particularly when set up internationally and on a longer term basis.
You then have to separate the rubber and felt from those collected balls. Until recently, there was no solution: both materials are very glued together and can hardly be pulled apart properly. Renewaball has recently mastered this process well and it was this particular innovation, among other things, that opened the door to the first circular tennis ball - and that is Renewaball.
Are Renewaballs more expensive than the balls I normally play with?
Renewaballs tennis balls are not more expensive. First of all, it is simply within the price range of 'normal' tennis and padel balls. Renewaball padel balls are slightly more expensive due to the felt quality we use. But then they last twice as long.
However, due to their environmental footprint, regular tennis and padel balls you are used to playing with, do impose part of the real cost to subsequent generations. 'Normal' balls carry a negative externality with a negative social cost to society, which is reflected in non of their prices.
Wouldn't it be better if every brand of tennis and/or padel balls supplied a circular ball?
So far, Renewaball is the only one to do so. However, every brand can contribute. Through collaboration with such another brand, Renewaball can ensure that we can pick out those balls after collection (brand / type). As we know which type of ball we are dealing with during collection, we also know exactly which ingredients will come out of that ball when we separate it into rubber and felt. This way, we can turn a specific brand ball into a Renewaball of the same brand. We are open to working with other brands, not just keeping the technology to ourselves.
What payment methods are allowed?
At Renewaball, we understand the importance of having flexible and secure payment options. That's why we offer a range of payment methods to make your transactions as smooth and convenient as possible. Your transactions are securely processed through our trusted payment gateway.
- Credit/Debit Cards: We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other major credit/debit cards.
- PayPal, Bank Transfer: You can also choose to pay via bank transfer. Google Pay, iDeal: For our customers in the Netherlands.
- Sofort, Amazon pay,
The above-described payment methods are only available for customers within the European Union. If you are located outside of the EU, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for your patience. You can contact us via email clubsales@renewaball.com if you want to order high quantities outside the EU.
In addition, we would also like to emphasise our commitment to sustainability. By using these digital payment options, we are reducing our carbon footprint and promoting eco-friendly practices. We encourage you to help us create a greener world in all areas, both in tennis and padel as well as in everyday life.
Any questions left?
Please contact us and we’ll be happy to answer them