Industry News

Head continues to innovate with the launch of the Boom Raw tennis racquet, an encouraging development in the search for a more sustainable future for racquet sports, as the fossil fuel dependency was lowered in the production of these racquets.

All of the carbon fibres are bio-circular carbon fibres in the limited-edition and highly innovative Boom Raw racquet, which offers the same explosive power – along with the same fun, feel and easy playability – as the regular, in-line Boom racquet. The bio-circular carbon fibres are manufactured by Toray and its subsidiary Toray Carbon Fibers Europe.

Prototyping a racquet with bio-circular carbon fibres

In 2024, Head collaborated with Toray on developing prototype racquets utilising Toray’s 100% bio-circular carbon fibres in accordance with the mass balance approach. A mass balance approach is one in which raw materials with certain characteristics (an example being biomass-derived) are mixed with other raw materials (such as petroleum-derived ones) in the processing and distribution process, from raw materials through to finished products. Characteristics are assigned to part of a product in line with the input proportions of raw materials with those characteristics.

Toray’s bio-circular carbon fibres are attributed from waste and residues of biological origin from agriculture, forestry and related industries from the start of the supply chain which – instead of being sent to landfill or otherwise taken out of the economy – are reused, used or recycled. Now, with the launch of the Boom Raw, Head is showing how it is possible to achieve the high performance of an in-line racquet while reducing the environmental impact.

A collaboration for sustainability

The regular, in-line Boom series is a fun-loving collection of racquets that lets you play drop shots, hot shots and big shots, boosting your energy and confidence, and the Boom Raw, with its more sustainable creation, is possibly even more of a feel-good racquet.

Developing the Boom Raw with Toray and its subsidiary bio-circular carbon fibres producer, Toray Carbon Fibers Europe, is part of Head’s ambition to be more sustainable. As an environmentally responsibly oriented sporting goods manufacturer, Head recognises that there is much more to be done to reduce harmful emissions and protect biodiversity. The collaboration between Head and Toray will continue, with a view to Head potentially releasing more sustainable racquets in the future.

In line with Head’s commitment to sustainability, its primary tennis racquet manufacturer in China will transition to sourcing exclusively green energy (according to the government’s information) for racquet production. This initiative is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 7,000 t annually (according to internal calculations), reinforcing Head’s dedication to minimising its environmental impact while continuing to innovate in racquet sports.

Cover photo: Toray