Luxilon releases the first 100%-recycled string

FLASHBACK: Tennis brands have elevated sustainability efforts in recent years, including this effort from Adidas to raise awareness about plastic waste in the oceans ahead of the 2022 Australian Open.

April was Earth Month, a time when people and organizations around the globe bring awareness to environmental issues affecting the planet. The heightened attention often fades as the calendar turns, but Luxilon is looking to make it more of a year-round endeavor.

The string brand, famed for its high-performance co-polyesters, has taken strides to significantly lessen its plastic waste and CO2 levels during its manufacturing process. Case in point is its latest release which is made of 100%-recycled materials.

'Eco Power' is an innovative string composed of old plastic bottles, and the minimalist packaging of the string also cuts down on the amount of paper used to lower waste.

While helping the environment is a worthy cause, players aren’t going to stick with any piece of equipment if it’s costing them matches. Luxilon went through great pains to try to ensure Eco Power doesn’t compromise performance, and held it to the same standards of shot production, durability and tension maintenance as their current strings.

The teal-colored string features a firm, dependable response and heightened control. A hexagonal shape gives it sharp edges that dig into the ball for extra bite and heavy spin. While it’s given the 'Power' label, it’s still meant for players with aggressive swings who are looking for toughness and good command out of their strings.

Eco Power currently comes in both 17g sets ($15) and reels ($180). It is available on the Luxilon website and tennis-specialty retailers.