Hidden Cost of Every Swing
The lifespan of a discarded tennis string is 500 years in a landfill. Second Serve gives them a second life
We collect used polyester strings from clubs and tournaments across the country and convert them into recycled industrial materials — closing the loop on one of sport's most overlooked waste streams
The game goes on. So should the strings
Recycled [XXX]+ Feet of String
Driving change through every string
We are proud to have diverted over [1,000] feet of used polyesters and nylons from landfills. By promoting a circular economy, we ensure that the sport we love continues to thrive without compromising our planet
About Us
Our Story
Second Serve is a Chicago-based circular materials company turning one of sport's most overlooked waste streams into a sustainable resource.
Founded by Victoria Gin, a University of Chicago alumna in economics and environmental studies. Second Serve sits at the intersection of her two longest-held passions — tennis and sustainability.
Before founding Second Serve, Victoria spent time at Goldman Sachs' natural resources investment banking group and later in energy private equity. Victoria watched string after string get thrown away at restringing — and saw an economic opportunity where others only saw waste.
Every year, millions of pounds of polyester tennis strings are discarded after use — ending up in landfills where they will sit for 500 years. Second Serve collects those strings from clubs, shops, and tournaments and converts them into recycled industrial feedstock, including 3D printing filament and injection molding pellets.
Our mission: Close the loop on tennis string waste and build the infrastructure to give every discarded string a second life.