It wasn't until the 1940’s however when another big change occurred. Before World War Two, the bowling industry was using shellac as a coating agent. This agent came from trees in Thailand and India. It is processed and sold as dry flakes, which were dissolved in to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food and . However that as the World War Two began, shellac become a limited supply cause it was used mostly for the production of guns. As a result the coating changed to a nitrocellulose-based lacquer-type coating. Lacquers perform better than shellac, but the fact that they are nitrocellulose compounds is a major disadvantage. Since the obvious hazards of flammability and explosiveness, it was obvious that there was a need for change. In response to the need for safer lane coatings, manufacturers sought to develop suitable alternatives. Among the alternatives developed were urethane, urethane/epoxy combinations, high-flash point solvents, and water-based systems. Each of these coatings was designed to replace the nitrocellulose lacquers and provide an added measure of safety.
The next change in bowling ball composition came with the development of the polyester ball in 1959. Such balls provided more hooking action on the prevalent lane finishes. Originally, polyester balls were transparent, but this allowed dirt to be more visible, so the formulation was changed to make the balls opaque in order to hide the dirt. This change was actually one of the most effective ones and it symbolizes the turning point for bowling. Given that polyester has a low toxicity level of all raw materials and side products during polyester production and processing. Also when produced in a closed loop, it adds low emissions to the environment. This makes the polyester ball one of the most successful turning points because at this point the bowling industry was becoming green.
The next big change came in the 1980s, when bowling lanes were made from maple and pine. The first 15 feet of a lane were made from hard rock maple with the last 45 feet made from softer pine. The harder maple was used because it could withstand the impact from the bowling balls. The rest of the lane was made from pine because it provided a better interaction between the ball and the surface. Also, pine is cheaper than maple. However this once again rose the impact on the environment because of the production for the lanes required a huge demand for wood. Which impacted the ecosystem as a whole given that pines serve as producers for many biomes such Taigas. Since it is very hard to obtain sources for energy in this cold regions due to permafrost, pines are essential to the survival of many organisms.
Up to the 1980s and since then there has not been that many changes, the impacts have been reduce to a minimum but there are still multiple problems that the bowling industry must face before It can be call a totally green industry. There is still hope however, since there has been a clue to where the bowling industry might be going in the environmental aspect.
The future of bowling appears to resemble that of the new Brooklyn Bowling Alley, what makes this one different from the others is the fact that is the first L.E.E.D certificated bowling alley in the world. L.E.E.D stands for “Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design” and it is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
The reason for why the Brooklyn bowling alley won this certificate is because their establishment is:
- 100 percent wind powered electricity
- Use of custody controlled wood
- Local products and businesses, including breweries
- No bottles or cans are used, soda is on tap also
- LED stage lights
- Efficient HVAC units
- External environmental factors of bike racks and trees planted Bowling lounge
75 percent more efficient pin spotters than traditional bowling machinery
- Water efficient toilets
- 100 percent reclaimed cork floors in the lounge
- 100 percent recycled tires for the stage floor
- Tables and wood-work furniture made from recycled bowling alley lanes
This improvements make it the most green bowling alley in the world. It is an example to follow and it marks the second turning point in bowling history, where once again it shows its commitments to the environment and society.
Bibliographies:
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Shockly, Jennifer. "First LEED Certified Bowling Alley: Brooklyn Bowl – Green Building Elements." Green Building Elements. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. <>.
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Dr. Trony. "The Chemistry of Bowling: A Short History of Bowling Balls, Lanes, Coatings, and Conditioners « Thoughts From The Heart On The Left." Thoughts From The Heart On The Left. 26 June 2008. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. <>.
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"Shellac Shack: Shellac Flakes." Shellac Shack: High Quality Shellac Flakes at Discount Prices. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. <>.
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"USGBC: LEED." USGBC: U.S. Green Building Council. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. <>.
