Sustainable design and environmental impact of materials in sports products

New sports product innovations are rapidly developed and brought to market by the manufacturers in order to accommodate the diverse needs and changing personal preferences of the users. Over the years, this has resulted in a shorter life cycle of sports products and increased disposal rates and waste. Also, advances based on the use of new processes and high-performance materials in sports equipment and sports apparel have unintentionally placed additional burdens on the environment and societies that are forced to deal with such products at end of life. This review article provides a detailed discussion of the main issues associated with the use of advanced materials in sports products and a review of the contemporary research and practice driving sustainable design of sports products. The sustainable use of composite materials in sports equipment, as well as natural and synthetic fibers in sports apparel, is examined in detail, including the sustainable design practice, manufacture, and recycling/reuse. The issues covered in this article aim to highlight the key technological challenges and opportunities facing the sporting goods industry in its quest to embrace the sustainable design paradigm.