Srixon Z-Star+e raises hope for ball problems
With the Srixon Z-STAR+e model, Japanese manufacturer Srixon is bringing movement to the difficult subject of golf balls. Until now, the golf ball and the term sustainability have not gone together. Due to the primary use of plastics and rubber, which are highly resistant to natural degradation processes, a golf ball does not rot. On the contrary, like all other products made from synthetic materials, they can release harmful chemicals into the soil or water over decades.
Golf balls that decompose are occasionally available on the market but are not approved for tournaments and do not have the same playing characteristics as the market leaders from Titleist, Callaway, Taylor Made or Srixon. The Japanese manufacturer Srixon has not yet released its new Srixon Z-Star +e model for sale but presented it for the first time at the end of last year, so there is speculation that it will soon be launched on the market.
Plant biomass for the cover
This is the first time that plant biomass has been used in the components. The outer layer of the SRIXON Z-STAR+e golf ball contains urethane derived from biopolyol from corn. This material reduces carbon dioxide emissions during the manufacturing process compared to conventional petroleum-based materials.
The changes are based on the sustainability strategy published in 2020 by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Srixon’s parent company. It envisages 100% use of sustainable materials in all of its products by 2050. In addition to tyres and other sports equipment, this includes golf balls.
The Strixon Z-STAR+e ball’s packaging is already made from 100% recycled paper, so now the material used has been reduced by 40%. The ball was presented for the first time at the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in November 2023 on the Japan Golf Tour, where it was played at a show event. This brought the golf ball and its problematic relationship with the environment into the public eye for the first time on a larger scale.
To date, the problem of the almost exclusive use of synthetic materials and the difficulty of disposing of plastic has hardly been addressed in the golf industry. At the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando 2024, the topic of sustainability was virtually absent from the manufacturers’ stands.
If you take a look at the sustainability reports of the three leading manufacturers Acushnet (Titleist), Callaway and Taylor Made, you will see that although progress is being made in sustainable production, the plastic problem of the ball is not being addressed through innovations. Instead, the focus is on saving water during production, optimizing packaging materials and logistical factors.
Acushnet (Titleist) refers, among other things, to closed-water recycling systems that save thousands of litres of water every day. The involvement of Co2-neutral packaging service providers and the integration of recycled ingredients into the packaging have also been tackled. Callaway uses a filtration system at its Chicopee, Massachusetts plant that recycles 95% of the water used in golf ball production. Removing polybags from packaging, reducing energy consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are also being addressed.
In its most recent sustainability report, TaylorMade focused primarily on responsible sourcing and manufacturing. The company has introduced standards for supplier responsibility related to environmental practices and human rights.
To date, the sustainable use of golf balls has been achieved primarily by selling used or refurbished balls. Tomorrow Golf is a producer on the market that uses recycled material from the core of old balls for new models. However, the golf market is dominated by the sale of new balls that have tournament approval from the R&A and USGA.
The sales figures for golf balls are pretty impressive: market leader Titleist reported sales of 622 million dollars for the first nine months of 2023 alone. Callaway, the number two in the market, achieved 314 million dollars in 2023.
Too many lost balls
Synthetic balls are also used in other sports. However, tennis, field hockey, handball, and volleyball do not have the same problem that complicates the situation in golf: Athletes don’t lose their balls outdoors in nature. Recycling or incineration is then no longer an option. This problem is specific to golf and apparently almost impossible to solve. The probability that golfers will no longer shoot balls in the future is close to zero.
