How Polymers Are the Real MVPs of Football

As the excitement builds for the Premier League 2024/2025, the importance of plastics in ensuring a successful tournament cannot be overstated. From the equipment, to the stadium infrastructure, and even fan experience, plastics play a crucial role in making the event safe, enjoyable, and sustainable. Here’s a closer look at how plastics have been indispensable to modern day football and this season's Premier League…
 

Why Are Footballs Made of Plastic?

Advances in materials, technology, and design have transformed the football from a basic leather sphere to a highly engineered piece of equipment. These improvements have not only enhanced the performance and consistency of the ball but also the overall experience for players and fans alike. A fun fact (brace yourself) is that footballs were initially made from animal bladders – usually pigs – wrapped in leather.

Thankfully, from 1855 the inflatable ‘bladder’ was then made from vulcanised rubber, though footballs remained made with leather coatings well into the 1960s. The leather of course deformed, absorbed water, limited performance, and fell apart quickly. The first polyurethane coated ball was used in the FIFA World Cup in 1974,  but it was not until the 1986 World Cup that leather was totally replaced.

Modern footballs are made of synthetic leather - typically polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These are water resistant, durable, and consistent (providing more predictable flight and bounce), as well as allowing textured surfaces, to enhance grip and control. They perform better and are more attractive than ever before.

The EURO 2024 ball ‘FUSSBALLLIEBE’ was fully synthetic and even features Adidas ‘Connected Ball Technology’ for the first time - aiding UEFA's video assistant refereeing decision-making process. Modern footballs are textured to improve aerodynamic performance, perfectly spherical with good shape retention, and 100% water resistant… so if your favourite players are wildly off-target this season, unfortunately plastics are not to blame.

Why Do Sports Clothes Contain Plastics?

Though a (poorly acted) fall while holding a knee, ankle, or any other (uninjured) body part has become ubiquitous in modern football matches, real injuries can and do happen often – and plastics play a crucial role in ensuring players’ safety and performance.

Plastics have played a transformative role in enhancing the design, functionality, and effectiveness of the gear. From shin guards, gloves, padding, and headgear, high-impact-resistant plastics like polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are used to create lightweight yet durable protective equipment. This ensures players' safety without compromising their agility and performance - which we can assume goalkeepers are especially grateful for.

The use of polymers like polyester, nylon, and spandex in sports clothing makes the clothing more comfortable, stretchy, and durable, plus incorporating other polymers can also make them waterproof, wind resistant, easy to colour/decorate, and even impact resistant.

In recent years, with increased demand for environmental considerations, kits are increasingly being made from recycled materials. Nike has unveiled that their next season’s kits for several teams (including Liverpool F.C., Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea) are all constructed with a 100% recycled polyester fabric made from discarded plastic bottles. This allows for the benefits of the material to performance, while reducing the need for new raw materials and waste… win-win!

Why Are Plastics Used in Stadiums/Infrastructure?

Football stadiums have improved significantly over the years, and plastics are at the heart of the evolution. From enhancing comfort and safety, to improving sustainability and cost-efficiency, plastics have made a significant impact on the design, construction, and operation of these sports arenas.

• Seating: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) have transformed the use of materials in arena seating. They are now durable, weather-resistant, cost-effective, and require less maintenance compared to traditional wooden or metal seating.
• Stadiums: Materials like PVC are integral in the structure of new arenas. Frankfurt for example hosts the world's largest retractable PVC membrane roof. When the roof is open, the retracted PVC membrane is stored at this central node and can be extended in a few minutes - so England's future isn't the only thing up in the air. The use of PVC represents a leap forward in material innovation, offering a blend of durability, flexibility, and environmental resistance that stands up to sporting demands. Learn more.
• Turf: Artificial turf, made from synthetic PE/PP fibres has revolutionized football pitches, especially in regions where maintaining natural grass is challenging due to climate. Synthetic turf provides a consistent playing surface, reduces maintenance costs, and can withstand heavy usage without deteriorating.

Plastics are durable, re-usable, low conductivity (hence save energy), and recyclable and thus constitute an essential component of any sustainability programme attached to a sporting event. 

Why Are Plastics Used in Footwear?

Football boots have also seen a revolution with the advent of plastics. Earlier boots made from heavy leather have been replaced by lighter, more flexible synthetic materials, which allow for better control, comfort, and speed. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) are commonly used in the soles and uppers, providing the necessary balance between flexibility, strength, and weight. These advancements have significantly enhanced player performance, comfort, and safety.

 

So, whether your favourite team 'bottles it' or not, plastics will always be there to keep the games going. From enhancing the quality and performance of equipment, to improving stadium infrastructure, plastics have made the sport more accessible, enjoyable, and safe for both players and fans . The future of football will undoubtedly see further innovations in plastic materials, balancing the need for performance with ecological responsibility, and ensuring that the game remains at the cutting edge of sports technology.

 

 

References

https://soccerballworld.com/history-of-the-soccer-ball/

https://www.living2022.com/football/football-buzz/through-decades-footballs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_official_match_balls

https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/025e-0fc6971c8220-0ceba795a115-1000--euro-match-balls-a-full-history/

https://futurevvorld.com/fashion/nike-2021-2022-football-soccer-kits-jerseys-recycled-polyester-plastic-bottles/

https://www.bpf.co.uk/plastipedia/applications/sports/Default.aspx

https://thisisplastics.com/safety/plastics-protect-plastics-help-peak-performance-athletes/

https://www.vinylplus.eu/sustainability/our-contribution-to-sustainability/partnering-with-the-sports-community/pvc-in-sports/#stadiums

https://www.displaydevelopments.co.uk/blog/2012/06/13/plastics-in-sports-footwear/

 

Author

Rebecca Shortland

*Please note that this article is not a press release. Do not use on your own website unless given specific permission from the author.