Back to School: Sports Equipment

Back to school means back to athletics. Parents anxious to encourage physical activity--and perhaps get a shot at college athletic scholarships--are spending big bucks on uniforms and sports equipment. What many may not realize is that recreation for kids of all ages offer opportunities to reinforce green values while having fun. Combining sports with fair trade products or equipment made out of recycled materials is a winning combination. And don't forget to recycled your old equipment or donate it to any one of the many charities accepting used sports gear.

Sports Equipment and Apparel - new and used

Equipment and apparel Fair Trade Sports Fair trade equipment and sweatshop-free apparel. All after-tax profits are donated to children's charities

Fair Trade Equipment

 Vegan Essentials Fair trade, eco-certified rubber sports equipment
Used sports equipment Play It Again Sports offers new and used equipment, that can be traded or sold back

Recycled Equipment

Basketball Wilson "Rebound" basketball made of 40% recycled rubber
Swimming EcoAthlete.org Accepts used swim caps for recycling
Tennis Rebounces.com Sells recycled tennis balls; will pick up your used tennis balls

Awards

Rivanna Natural Designs creates and distributes awards, plaques, and corporate gifts made from organic or recycled materials and certified, sustainably harvested woods.

Golf

Golf is an increasingly popular sport with kids as it retains its adherents among adults. Though it's played on a "green," golf is a notoriously environmentally-unfriendly sport. One way to play greener is to own up to all those balls you hit into the water and switch them out for water-soluble golf balls. Many companies now offer recycled golf balls, some of which are used balls retrieved from the course while some are made of recycled materials. From now on, when you leave a tee behind, do the grass a favor by leaving a tee made out of fertilizer.

Donated equipment

If your kids have already outgrown their cleats or shinguards, don't let them gather dust in the garage. Post them on Freecycle so they can be claimed by new owners, drop them off at a thrift store, or better yet, donate them to a charity like SportsGift.org that collects sports equipment for kids around the globe.

Or, if you know of a youth sports league that could use a boost, look for donated refurbished equipment from a charity like the Major Leauge Baseball's Recycled Baseball Items Foundation.

Uniforms

Uniforms can be an expensive investment for both schools and players. Some schools have begun recycling the previous year's jerseys. In other cases, high-tech sports apparel is actually the greenest: Nike's Swift yarn, a lightweight fiber ideal for swimmers, is made out of recycled plastic soda bottles. In the UK, schools are moving towards uniforms made from a similar material.

trophyPlayground Equipment

Is your child's playground in need of an update? Younger children can benefit from green sports, too. Gone are the days of one lone truck tire swing as part of a playground set. These days, entire jungle gyms are made of recycled and PVC-free materials. Encourage your school to make its next investment in kids' recreation to be a green investment.

Awards

The honors your child receives for his or her sports achievements are the source of lasting pride...and equally long-lasting trophies. If you have awards that have overstayed their welcome on your mantle, ask your local awards company, scout troup 4-H club or athletics league if they will accept them for recycling into new awards, or look into charities that repurpose trophies for a new generation of athletes. To green your child's future awards, encourage your school to use trophies made from recycled materials.

Recycling as a competitive sport?

Your local school can catch Recyclemania! Kids can build their team spirit while moving their school towards the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate.

Learn more

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If you would like for your company to be listed in the Conscious Consumer Marketplace, please email Carolyn Danckaert or call 301.891.3683 ext. 125.