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#Composites

HEAD launches more sustainable(1) BOOM RAW racquet on Earth Day by using Toray’s bio-circular carbon fibers

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. All of the carbon fibers are bio-circular carbon fibers 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 fibers are manufactured by Toray and its subsidiary Toray Carbon Fibers Europe.
Showcasing that nothing changes except what matters, HEAD will launch the BOOM RAW on Earth Day on 22nd April 2025 © 2025 HEAD / Toray
Showcasing that nothing changes except what matters, HEAD will launch the BOOM RAW on Earth Day on 22nd April 2025 © 2025 HEAD / Toray


In 2024, HEAD collaborated with Toray on developing prototype racquets utilizing Toray’s 100% bio-circular carbon fibers in accordance with the mass balance approach(2). Toray’s bio-circular carbon fibers 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.

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 fibers producer, Toray Carbon Fibers Europe, is part of HEAD’s ambition to be more sustainable. As an environmentally responsibly oriented sporting goods manufacturer, HEAD recognizes 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(3) for racquet production. This initiative is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 7,000 tons annually(4), reinforcing HEAD’s dedication to minimizing its environmental impact while continuing to innovate in racquet sports.

(1) The fossil fuel dependency was lowered in the production of these racquets.

(2) 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.

(3) According to the government’s information

(4) According to internal calculations



More News from Toray Engineering Co. Ltd.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Toray develops recycling technology that retains carbon fiber strength and surface quality

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has developed a recycling technology that can decompose diverse carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) made from thermosetting resins while retaining the strength and surface quality of those fibers. The company drew on this technology to create a nonwoven fabric employing recycled carbon fibers.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Companies in Japan initiate demonstration to expand the automotive recycling process

DENSO CORPORATION and other partners have been chosen by an industry-government-academia collaborative project aiming to expand the recycle content for automobile in the fiscal year 2023 supported by Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

#Yarn & Fiber

Toray develops durable reverse osmosis membrane

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has developed a highly durable reverse osmosis (RO) membrane (see glossary note 1). This innovative offering guarantees the long-term provision of high-quality water. It also maintains the superior removal performance of Toray’s existing membranes vital for reusing industrial wastewater and treating sewage.

#Yarn & Fiber

Toray develops revolutionary Ion-Conductive polymer membrane for batteries that could dramatically extend vehicular cruise ranges

Toray Industries, Inc., announced that it has developed an ion-conductive polymer membrane that delivers 10-fold the ion conductivity of predecessors. This new offering could accelerate the deployment of solid-state batteries (see glossary note 1), air batteries (glossary note 2), and other lithium metal batteries, greatly expanding the cruising ranges of electric vehicles, industrial drones, urban air mobility systems, and other transportation modes.

More News on Composites

#Composites

JEC World 2026 reveals the list of finalists for the Innovation Awards

Each year, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards recognize collaborative, innovative, and ambitious projects that illustrate the potential of composite materials. Created in 1998, this benchmark program aims to identify, promote, and reward the most innovative composite solutions worldwide. In 28 years, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards have attracted more than 2,200 participating companies from around the world. A total of 269 companies and 811 associated partners have been recognized for the excellence of their innovations.

#Composites

MEL Composites and Carrocerías Ayats collaborate on lightweight composite window frames

MEL Composites is proud to announce its ongoing collaboration with Spanish bus and coach manufacturer Carrocerías Ayats, showcasing the benefits of advanced composite technologies and scalable manufacturing processes originally developed for the sporting goods sector. The joint development of lightweight composite window frame covers demonstrates how MEL’s process innovation can be successfully transferred to the transportation industry to meet new regulatory and performance goals.

#Composites

FLYING WHALES selects HEXCEL for the supply of composites materials for its LCA60T AIRSHIP

In order to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, FLYING WHALES (FLWH) and HEXCEL are collaborating on an exciting project to develop the most adapted solutions for airship structures.

#Composites

KONGSBERG and HEXCEL sign a long-term partnership agreement

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG) and HEXCEL Corporation (HEXCEL) have signed a long-term partnership agreement at the Paris Air Show for the supply of HexWeb® engineered honeycombs and HexPly® prepregs for KONGSBERG’s strategic production programs over a five-year period.

Latest News

#Spinning

First PA66 spinning plant with EvoQuench successfully commissioned

With the successful commissioning of a multi-digit PA66 spinning line for microfiber yarns, Chinese textile company Shandong Nanshan Fashion Technology Co., Ltd. has added yarn production to its textile value chain.

#Knitting & Hosiery

SHIMA SEIKI returns to ShanghaiTex

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Hong Kong and Chinese market subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI (HONG KONG) LTD., will exhibit at the ShanghaiTex 2025 exhibition (Booth No.: Hall N3, Booth A20) held in Shanghai, China this month. This marks the return of SHIMA SEIKI to ShanghaiTex after a 14-year hiatus, its last exhibit at the show having been in 2011.

#Research & Development

Fraunhofer CCPE presents the “Monomaterial Design Set” – Innovative solutions for circular product design

Composite materials made from different types of plastic often extend the lifetime of products but make recycling more difficult in the circular economy. That is why Fraunhofer CCPE has developed the “Monomaterial Design Set”. This new approach helps to reduce the variety of plastics used in durable products and offers circular solutions for designers and product developers.

#Man-Made Fibers

arena introduces renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber in its latest swimwear collection

Italian swimwear specialist arena has unveiled a new collection that brings sustainability and performance even closer together. Launched on December 4, the line features swimsuits made from recycled nylon and renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber — the first time the bio-based spandex has been used commercially in swimwear.

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