the crack’d story
A Message from founder, Millie Smythe
CRACK’D was born out of my passion for both sports and sustainability. As a former tennis player from the UK, I was introduced to pickleball and quickly became obsessed with the new sport. What began with learning the basics - like what a dink even is - evolved into competing internationally in a short amount of time.
With a university degree in sustainable design, I couldn't ignore the significant amount of broken pickleballs that were being discarded without a second thought. The amount of waste was staggering, and it became clear to me that something had to be done. I envisioned a solution that would give players a responsible way to dispose of their broken balls while also helping the sport reduce its environmental footprint.
Realising the sport needed a more eco-friendly solution, I have created CRACK’D - a company dedicated to recycling these discarded balls into new products, offering players a responsible way to reduce the sport’s environmental impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Certainly! We take donations of broken balls of any size. See if a drop-off event is happening near you or find a local club thats partnered with us- there you can donate any balls you’ve collected.
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Our products are made from recycled pickleballs, which requires collecting, sorting, cleaning, and transforming them into durable, functional items. Unlike mass-produced plastics, each piece is crafted with sustainability, quality, and longevity in mind. The higher cost reflects the care, environmental impact, and purpose behind every product - turning waste into something meaningful rather than relying on virgin plastics.
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Our products are designed to be useful for years, but if the time comes, they can be recycled at specialist facilities that handle plastics not accepted in household bins. Many small businesses and recycling specialists can take products like ours and give the materials another life - keeping the loop going.
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We’re always happy to chat with people who share the same love for sustainability as they do pickleball. If you want to help out in more ways to green up the game, get in touch.