What Is TPU? The Material Behind Eco Sports
Why TPU?
We build our basketballs with TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) — a premium vegan material that outperforms traditional leather and synthetic alternatives in all the ways that matter.
Unlike PVC and PU — the plastics most commonly used in sports equipment — TPU is engineered without chlorine, without animal byproducts, and without the chemical softeners that make conventional plastics a concern. It's naturally flexible and durable, so it doesn't need the additives that other plastics rely on.
TPU is also fully recyclable. When this ball reaches the end of its life, the material can be recovered and reprocessed — unlike traditional leather or PVC, which end up in landfills.
Better performance. No leather. No toxic plastics. That's the Eco Sports standard.
Why Ciclo Technology
What Is CiCLO® Technology & Why Does Eco Sports Use It?
CiCLO® is a patented technology added to synthetic yarns — like polyester and nylon — that allows them to biodegrade in natural environments the same way organic materials like cotton and wool do. The result is high-performance activewear that doesn't outlive the planet.
The Problem With Standard Synthetic Fabrics
Conventional polyester and nylon are essentially plastic. When a garment reaches the end of its life, it can persist in landfills and oceans for hundreds of years. Worse, every wash cycle sheds microplastics — tiny synthetic fibers that enter waterways and accumulate in ecosystems. Standard activewear is built to last on your body, but that durability becomes a liability when it's done.
What Makes CiCLO® Different
CiCLO®-enabled yarns are engineered to biodegrade in biologically active environments — like landfills and marine settings — breaking down like a natural fiber rather than persisting indefinitely as plastic. The performance of synthetic fabric. The end-of-life behavior of natural fiber.
All Eco Sports activewear uses CiCLO®-enabled yarns certified by ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX®, meaning every chemical ingredient has been independently tested and verified as safe for human health and the environment. This isn't a marketing claim — it's a certification.
What CiCLO® Means For You
- Activewear that performs like premium synthetic fabric
- Certified safe against harmful chemicals
- Engineered to break down at end of life — not linger in landfills for centuries
- Reduces the long-term microplastic footprint of your wardrobe
Eco Sports & CiCLO®
We chose CiCLO® because we believe performance and responsibility aren't opposites. You shouldn't have to choose between gear that works and gear that doesn't cost the planet. Every Eco Sports activewear piece is built on that principle — certified materials, verified claims, real impact.
What Makes Eco Sports Pickleballs Different?
Our pickleballs are certified biodegradable under controlled composting conditions — tested and verified to ASTM D5338, the internationally recognized standard for aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials. That's not a marketing claim. That's a lab result.
What Does ASTM D5338 Mean?
ASTM D5338 is the industry-standard test method for determining how completely and how quickly a plastic material breaks down in a composting environment. Under controlled thermophilic composting conditions, our pickleball material converts to CO₂, water, and organic matter — the same outcome as natural materials like paper and wood.
Most plastic sports equipment will outlive your grandchildren in a landfill. Our pickleballs won't.
The Fine Print (We Believe In It)
"Biodegradable under composting conditions" means exactly that — a composting environment, not a landfill or your backyard. We say this because we believe in accurate claims, not vague green marketing. If you have access to a composting facility, these balls can go there at end of life. That's a meaningful step forward from 100% of the competition.
Why It Matters
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America. That means millions of balls being manufactured, cracking, and going to landfill every year. We built a ball that performs to USAPA standards and has a real end-of-life solution. That's the Eco Sports difference.