At NetballUK, we are more than just the UK’s largest independent netball retailer, we’re a passionate team committed to the sport and the people who play it. From our headquarters in Oldham. Our small but dedicated team works hard to deliver quality Netball products across the UK and internationally. In 2024 alone, we fulfilled over 31,000 orders via our website, our most popular items being netball shoes and netballs.
As our business grows, so does our responsibility to operate sustainably. This means reducing our environmental footprint and making positive contributions to our community and workforce. We’ve taken key steps to assess our current practices and identify where we can do more.
Being an online retailer means packaging is essential. But we’re careful to avoid waste wherever possible. Most items are shipped in their original product packaging trainers in shoeboxes, clothing in protective wraps, and netballs in boxes from the suppliers. We also reuse larger cardboard boxes from incoming deliveries to pack bulk orders and transport stock for events.
All parcels are wrapped in outer plastic to protect them during transit. These bags are either 100% recycled and recyclable or made from reclaimed materials. We are proud of the materials we use, and we would like to encourage customers to recycle these bags at home where possible.
Our warehouse waste is carefully stored and recycled wherever possible, and we work with a carbon-neutral waste company to ensure responsible disposal. Office waste is minimal, but we’ve identified opportunities to improve - like introducing recycling for bottles, cans, and paper.
We’re proud of our water efficiency. Our usage is significantly below the typical benchmarks for a business of our size, helped by good habits like using refillable bottles.
We believe in making our products last. That’s why we include care guides with netballs to help customers maintain them properly. We plan to roll this out to other products like trainers to reduce waste and promote longevity.
As a local business, our team reflects the community we serve. Our staff play, coach, umpire or support netball, and this shared passion shapes our friendly, supportive workplace culture.
We work closely with retail partners, such as Manchester Thunder, and are proud to be the trusted supplier for thousands of clubs and schools across the UK. Our presence at high profile events helps raise our brand's profile and strengthen our connection with the netball community.
We have put together a 2-phase plan to improve our sustainability from better packaging communication to enhanced stock systems and charitable partnerships. You can see the full report we have compiled here. In our new location we can upgrade our operations, we’re excited to implement even more sustainable practices into everything we do. If you have any suggestions for sustainable steps we could take, please send us an email at sales@netballuk.co.uk or phone us on 0161 626 3936.
Together with our customers, we’re committed to building a more responsible and long-lasting future for netball.