Sports and the Environment_ A Life Cycle Assessment of Children_s.pdf

The study on "Sports and the Environment: A Life Cycle Assessment of Children's Football and Hockey Equipment" by Emma Casey provides valuable insights that could be relevant for your project, Passback, which aims to create a circular economy for sports gear and textiles:

1. Environmental Impact of Sports Equipment: The study found that youth football equipment had a greater global warming potential (GWP) than hockey equipment, mainly due to the high-density polyethylene plastic in shoulder pads. This highlights the significant environmental impact that sports equipment can have, which is an important consideration for Passback's mission to promote sustainable practices in sports.
2. Consumer Behavior: The study noted that the use phase (washing and drying) was not the most impactful stage for these sports equipment, contrary to previous life cycle assessments on textiles. This was largely because protective equipment was air-dried, reducing energy consumption. This finding suggests that consumer behavior, such as air-drying sports gear, can significantly reduce environmental impact. Passback can leverage this insight to educate consumers on sustainable practices for maintaining their sports equipment.
3. Material Composition: The study detailed the material composition of various sports equipment, including polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam, polyester, and carbon fiber. Understanding the materials used in sports gear is crucial for Passback's efforts to promote recycling and reuse. By identifying the materials that have the highest environmental impact, Passback can prioritize the collection and recycling of specific types of equipment.
4. Opportunities for Improvement: The study's findings can help Passback identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of sports equipment. For example, by promoting the reuse of equipment with high GWP materials, such as football shoulder pads, Passback can help mitigate the environmental impact of new production.
5. Future Research: The study suggests that further analysis is needed before the sporting goods industry can use the findings to prioritize improvements on their products. This highlights an opportunity for Passback to contribute to research and development in sustainable sports equipment, potentially collaborating with manufacturers to design more environmentally friendly products.

In summary, the study provides valuable insights into the environmental impact of sports equipment, the importance of consumer behavior, and the material composition of gear, all of which are relevant for Passback's mission to create a circular economy for sports gear and textiles.