Tennis is one of the highest waste-producing sports, due to the sheer demand for tennis balls and their short lifespan. Over 330 million tennis balls are manufactured each year, with only about 1% ever being recycled. Additionally, the ball’s inability to biodegrade has resulted in massive rubber waste being added to landfills. In fact, used tennis balls account for over 20,000 metric tons of waste annually, a total of over 300 million balls. The number of tennis balls thrown away each year is close to the number that is produced, making the average lifespan of a ball just over a year.
While tennis balls can be reused during competition, it is common practice to introduce new balls to prevent wear and tear from affecting the outcome of the game. One tennis tournament alone can use over tens of thousands of balls, with the most popular competition, Wimbledon, using almost 55,000 each year. Some balls do get recycled or reused for non-competitive games, but oftentimes, the balls are tossed right into the trash.
A designer from Brussels was determined to give these balls a new life. So, Mathilde Wittock created Soundbounce. Using her master’s degree in biodesign, Wittock found a way to repurpose used tennis balls into acoustic dividers, wall paneling, furniture, and much more. Her work even won the 2025 Green Concept Award!
First, the balls are hand-cut along the white line to create two identical pieces. Then those pieces are dyed a variety of colors using natural, sustainable dyes. The pieces can then be interlocked together into whatever shape is desired. The final designs use the balls to create a “pixel-like” effect. Because no adhesives are used to fit the pieces together, all of Soundbounce’s designs can be dismantled, meaning the tennis balls can be used in a different design or recycled when needed.
Wittock’s designs recycle an average of 283 balls per square meter and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 8.5 kg per square meter. The final products can absorb sound across a wide frequency range, which makes them perfect for large open spaces, libraries, offices, museums, and corporate buildings. Wittock can also customize the dye colors, allowing for the balls to be used in billboards and “branding projects”. Given the popularity of the sport, I would like to see more tennis tournaments work together with designers like Wittock to find ways to keep tennis balls out of the landfill.
