Eco Tennis


Recently the sports industries are embracing environmental alternatives because of increasing climate change. 

Working both in the environmental and tennis world, I've been an advocate for eco tennis.

Below is something I wrote years ago for the United States Professional Tennis Association. Happy returns both on and off the courts!!!

Tennis and revolutions have a long history. Taken on a tennis court near the Palace of Versailles during the French Revolution, the "Tennis Court Oath" (serment du jeu de paume) was a solemn collective vow by French deputies to continue to meet despite a royal prohibition to do so until a constitution had been written. Today, an even more violent revolution is happening-seemingly irreversible, and dramatic climate change impacts due to the human footprint upon this planet. Perhaps a newer version of "Tennis Court Oath" needs to be taken:

"We swear never to separate ourselves from our connection with nature and to reassemble whenever circumstance requires, until responsible environmental best practices are enacted in the realm of tennis and fixed upon solid foundations."

Our many diversions and games offer us all a playful and entertaining manner in which to respond to these challenges those future generations and we must endure. Play is an essential component of our innate humaneness. Conservation is an essential component of our collective survival. People who enjoy tennis can all lessen their impact through three key "R" actions:

"Reduction" of pollutants

"Reusing" resources

"Recycling" of waste.

Environmental initiatives such as energy and water conservation and renewable energy sourcing can take numerous creative forms. Since environmental issues are becoming more apparent, the potential for the game of tennis to become greener is expanding. The "tennis industry" can only diminish its carbon footprint through a sustainable game plan that leads by example. What's more, there are considerable public relations benefits to attract more people to the game if tennis can demonstrate that it champions conservation.

Some assume that tennis's environmental impact is not significant compared to other sports. Did you know that most tennis balls are made out of recycled rubber and that asphalt is the leading recycled product in the U.S. with an impressive 80% recycling rate?  However, there are simple conservation measures and best management practices that enhance sustainability. There are ways to become more mindful and to lessen ecological impacts. There are many examples simply in new lighting products that both prevent pollution as well as diminishing the cost to the consumer.

So, as global resources dwindle and government regulations increase, the tennis industry can certainly benefit by implementing measures that support more sustainable and renewable energy, minimize the use of raw materials, and reduce ecological damage. Tennis is played for many reasons, among them for better health: if the players benefit from improved health, they can also help to improve the health of our environment.

There are modest financial incentives to encourage more environmentally responsible behavior. Current environmental trends are pressuring the public to become more and more aware of the uses of energy and other resources. As in tennis, there will be "winners" and "losers," depending on what current practices in the industry are adopted.

Even the Olympics in Paris this year is looking to lessen their carbon output. It is not unimaginable that there may be some sort of ingenious 'green scoring' criteria developed in the future to provide useful feedback and to encourage responsible environmental management. In tennis, it's a game of errors and keeping things in play.  This must be the strategy that we also have with our earth and its sacred resources. HAPPY Returns both on and off the courts.

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