New Ball Sport Uses Ocean-Bound Plastic to Create Sustainable Sports Equipment

Innovation often happens when different ideas come together in unexpected ways. With the launch of SMAGGXX®, a new sport developed in Switzerland, sustainable materials, movement science, and outdoor recreation meet in a completely new way.

At first glance, SMAGGXX® looks simple: players use two paddles—one in each hand—and a ball. The game can be played alone, with a partner, or in teams, making it highly adaptable to different environments. Whether on the beach, in a park, over a net, or against a wall, the game is designed to be accessible, social, and easy to learn. Yet behind its simplicity lies an innovative concept that sets it apart from traditional racket sports.

A New Ball Sport That Engages Body and Mind

Unlike most racket sports that rely primarily on one dominant hand, SMAGGXX® requires players to actively use both hands throughout the game. This bilateral movement pattern engages both sides of the body and challenges coordination in a unique way. By stimulating both hemispheres of the brain, the sport combines physical activity with cognitive engagement. Players train concentration, reaction speed, coordination, and mental agility while enjoying an active and social game experience.

This focus on the connection between body and brain represents a new direction in recreational sports. As people increasingly seek activities that support both physical and mental wellbeing, SMAGGXX® offers a fresh approach that goes beyond traditional fitness. It encourages movement, learning, and social interaction while making outdoor spaces more engaging and accessible for people of all ages.

Sustainable Sports Equipment Made from #tide ocean material

The innovation extends beyond the game itself. The paddles are manufactured using #tide ocean material®, our premium recycled plastic made from ocean-bound plastic collected in coastal areas at risk of marine pollution. By transforming discarded plastic waste into high-quality sports equipment, SMAGGXX® demonstrates how circular material solutions can create value far beyond traditional applications.

The beach is a natural environment for the game—and a symbolic one. Coastlines around the world are among the areas most affected by plastic pollution. Creating sports equipment from materials that help prevent plastic from reaching the ocean highlights the close relationship between personal wellbeing and environmental health. After all, healthy lifestyles depend on healthy places to play, explore, and connect.

At Tide, we believe sustainability creates the greatest impact when it becomes part of everyday experiences. SMAGGXX® shows how recycled materials can enable innovation, performance, and entirely new ways to enjoy the outdoors while reducing environmental impact.

Designed for play on beaches, parks public spaces but also at home or in the office, SMAGGXX® is a reminder that the places we enjoy today depend on the actions we take to protect them. By transforming ocean-bound plastic into durable sports equipment, the project brings the story of circularity back to the very environments it helps preserve.