The Winston-Salem Open announced the LET partnership, naming the apparel company the tournament's Official Tennis String Recycling Partner, a first for professional tennis. Throughout tournament week, all used polyester string from players, including defending champion Márton Fucsovics and top-20 player Luciano Darderi, will be collected and transformed through LET's closed-loop process, with the resulting apparel slated to launch at the 2027 event.
Fans can participate directly by bringing their used strings for recycling on opening day, with the first 500 donors receiving complimentary admission. The initiative reflects the tournament's broader push to keep materials out of local landfills while giving players and attendees a tangible connection to where their gear ends up.
The collaboration shows how a simple, sport-specific circularity initiative can engage both players and fans while setting a precedent other tournaments might follow.
Tennis Recycling Partnerships
The Winston-Salem Open Has Named LET Its String Recycling Partner
Trend Themes
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Sport-specific Circularity — Tournaments are turning niche waste streams such as tennis strings into branded recycled products, creating new value from materials previously treated as landfill waste.
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Fan-driven Recycling — Participation incentives tied to admission or perks are making sustainability programs more visible while strengthening attendee engagement around measurable environmental outcomes.
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Closed-loop Athletic Apparel — Recovered performance materials are being converted into future merchandise, expanding opportunities for apparel brands to differentiate through traceable circular production.
Industry Implications
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Professional Sports — Event operators can use material recovery partnerships to modernize sustainability efforts while building deeper connections between athletes, fans, and venues.
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Athletic Apparel — Brands working with specialized recycled inputs can develop limited-edition products that merge performance identity with transparent waste reduction narratives.
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Waste Management — Specialized recycling providers are finding growth potential in processing hard-to-recycle sports equipment components for high-visibility commercial applications.