Water bottles are made from various materials, making recycling a challenge. MNEXT and SAAR Sport are tackling this challenge in the “From Water Bottle to Circular Sports Product” project, funded by Innofest x SIA Sport 2024. The results of this research will be tested during the World Cup Qualification Tournament from November 8 to 10 at the Thialf Stadium.
The project focuses on examining scrap material from water bottles. SAAR Sport has established a sustainable chain for collecting used sports bottles. MNEXT will analyze the properties of the materials used in these bottles. This scrap material will be compared to so-called ‘virgin’ material, which has never been used or processed before. Based on the measured properties, the production possibilities and potential circular sports products will be determined.
Testing at Thialf
After identifying which circular sports products can be made from recycled water bottles, these products will be tested in practice by the primary target group: athletes. How do they feel about the products being made from recycled bottles? What do they think of the design? Do they perform as well as sports products made from virgin material? This feedback is highly valuable for the project and serves as a way to raise awareness about circularity and its possibilities in the sports world. These tests will take place during the World Cup Qualification Tournament from November 8 to 10 at the Thialf Stadium in Heerenveen.
For questions about this project, please contact the project leader Werner Müller: ww.muller@avans.nl or 06-83624220.