Cassandra Toroian on VolleyBird Bringing Renewaball to the U.S.

Tennis and padel generate significant equipment waste, with millions of balls discarded each year after limited use. A European-developed solution, Renewaball, is now entering the U.S. market with a model designed to reduce that impact through circular manufacturing.

VolleyBird has been named the exclusive U.S. distributor of Renewaball, the world’s first fully circular tennis and padel ball. The product is manufactured using recycled rubber recovered from used balls and finished with a biodegradable wool felt, eliminating the use of synthetic materials that contribute to microplastic pollution. Renewaball balls are approved by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), International Padel Federation (IPF), and Spanish Padel Federation (FEP).

In an exclusive interview with Florida Tennis Magazine, Cassandra Toroian, co-founder of VolleyBird and a former Division I tennis player, explained how the partnership with Renewaball developed.

Source: Renewaball.

“Through VolleyBird, we were looking for environmentally responsible products for racquet sports,” Toroian said. “When we first tried to purchase Renewaball, they told us they didn’t ship to the United States because they didn’t want to increase their carbon footprint.”

That response led to further discussions rather than a standard distribution agreement.

“We ultimately partnered with them by committing not to use air freight for overseas deliveries,” Toroian explained. “That means longer lead times and limited quantities at first, but it was important that sustainability applied to logistics as well.”

Renewaball’s system focuses on keeping balls within a closed-loop process. Used balls are collected, the rubber is reused, and the felt—often the source of microplastics in conventional balls—is removed from circulation.

Source: Renewaball.

“The goal is to keep these balls within one ecosystem,” Toroian said. “Many recycling programs simply repurpose old balls into other products, which doesn’t eliminate the underlying material issues.”

VolleyBird plans to introduce Renewaball’s take-back program in the United States, allowing clubs and facilities to return used balls to re-enter the manufacturing cycle.

From a performance standpoint, Toroian noted that players should not expect a significant difference.

“I don’t think there’s a noticeable difference compared to traditional balls,” she said. “If anything, the wool felt may allow for a little more spin, depending on the player.”

Renewaball tennis and padel balls are now available in the U.S. through VolleyBird’s online store, with wholesale options for clubs, academies, hotels, and facilities. Initial supply is limited, with availability expected to increase as production expands.

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Written and edited by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy.. Top photo credit: Renewaball.