Athletes today compete in high-tech gear made from advanced materials like fibre-reinforced plastic, which has upped the game in most high-level sports. These materials often combine plastics with strong fibres like carbon or glass that make equipment lighter, stronger and more durable, helping athletes play better.  

While great for performance, these composite materials are notoriously difficult to recycle. In the UK for example, 90 per cent of sports equipment waste ends up in landfill. Globally, 7,000 tonnes of sports equipment reach the end of their life every year.  

As sports continue to rely more on these products and materials, the amount of waste generated increases, prompting researchers to find better ways to manage these hard-to-recycle materials and recover valuable components. Recently, one solution has shown strong potential. 

A team of researchers from University of Sydney developed a new method known as thermochemical recycling, a process using a combination of chemicals and heat to break down mixed materials and extract valuable carbon fibres. The team tested this method using broken carbon fibre bikes and found that by heating them to 425°C, they could recover the fibres with 94 per cent of their original stiffness and 90 per cent of their original strength.  

The recycled fibres can be used in a variety of new applications, including 3D printing for other bike parts or even in reinforced concrete. This can help to reduce demand for further resource extraction and the environmental impact it causes while creating a new market for recycled materials. Additionally, this method uses less energy than traditional recycling processes and creates fewer harmful by-products, making it a more environmentally friendly option.   

To extend the life of our own sports equipment, we should focus on proper care, maintenance and repair, consider donating or borrowing gear when possible, invest in high-quality and eco-friendly materials and look out for recycling programs or community initiatives that upcycle old equipment.   

We recommend checking with your local council or visiting Recycling Near You for more information. 

Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.