The bio-elastomer “Pebax Rnew” manufactured by France’s Arkema (Paris / France; www.arkema.com) was chosen as one of the materials used in the “Join the Team” football – or soccer – ball commissioned by Sony to help Africa and promote the World Cup. The Japanese electronics giant is starting the ball rolling to benefit the children of Africa, including South Africa, where the games are being played.

Arkema’s high durability thermoplastic elastomer, made partly from non-edible renewable resources, including castor oil, makes up part of the ball’s dual-layered surface. Its durability, 1.6 times the durability of conventional soccer balls, contributes to making it “tough enough to endure Africa’s rugged terrain,” the company says.

The balls are being distributed by NGOs such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of the wider project “Earth FC” (www.sony.net/earthfc), which is designed to draw attention to Africa’s health challenges, including AIDS. For every 1,000 clicks on the website Sony will ship one ball to Africa.