This research was supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council's Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA)

Sport produces mountains of high-tech waste. We are finding new ways to recycle it

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2024-12-31 02:00:06

This research was supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council's Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) fellowship scheme

In the early days of the modern Olympics and Paralympics, athletes competed using heavy, non-aerodynamic equipment. The record for throwing a javelin, for instance, has almost doubled since 1908, when the sport was introduced. Athletes have got better – but so has their equipment.

In fact, sporting equipment (and the materials it is made from) has improved in almost every sport. Fibre-reinforced plastics, in particular, have been revolutionary. These composite materials commonly combine plastics with strong carbon or glass fibre. You can now find them in most sports played at high level.

These strong, bendable and lightweight materials have made it possible for athletes to push the limits of their sports, win medals and bring pride to their nations. But they come with a hidden cost.