Padel’s explosive growth has introduced millions to the fast-paced sport, but it has also created a waste problem that few have considered: what happens to all those used balls once they lose their bounce? Amazeballs, an upcycling initiative in South Africa, has stepped in with an innovative solution—collecting discarded padel balls and transforming them into art, furniture, and playground equipment, giving them a second life off the court.
With bins placed across South Africa, Amazeballs gathers used balls that would otherwise end up in landfills and collaborates with local artists and creatives to turn them into new, functional products. Given that a padel ball lasts only two to four matches before it becomes unplayable, the scale of waste from the sport is significant. By repurposing these balls, Amazeballs not only tackles the environmental impact of padel but also raises awareness about sustainability in sports.
“In a South Africa that simply can’t afford any more streams of waste, initiatives like this one are imperative to changing the way we consume,” the Amazeballs team explained. The project is part of a broader upcycling movement that views discarded materials as opportunities rather than problems, proving that sustainability and sports can go hand in hand.
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