Is artificial turf being banned? We tackle the misconceptions
The impending introduction of new EU legislation concerning microplastics has caused much confusion around the use of synthetic turf systems as a whole. To help address these misconceptions, EMEA Synthetic Turf Council (ESTC) has chosen to debunk some of the most common myths.
Synthetic turf, commonly referred to as artificial turf or artificial grass, has been a widespread product in the sport and landscaping industries since it first came to market in the 1960s.
Myth #1: Synthetic turf is being banned
Reality: The European Commission’s impending ban on the sale and use of intentionally added microplastics from 2031 has led many to incorrectly assume that synthetic turf itself is being banned. However, only the sale and use of polymeric infill such as EPDM, TPE, and SBR (3G pitch rubber crumb) will be restricted from this date.
Myth #2: Rubber crumb infill is being banned due to safety concerns
Reality: Rubber crumb infill is not being banned for any health and safety-related concerns, and remains safe for use. This is evidenced by the 2019 European Risk Assessment Study on Synthetic Turf Rubber Infill (ERASSTRI), which concluded that there were no relevant health concerns for sportspeople who play on synthetic turf pitches using polymeric infill.
Rather, the upcoming ban on rubber crumb infill forms part of a wider move from the European Commission to restrict intentionally added microplastics. Notably, this will also affect other major industries such as cosmetics and detergents.
Myth #3: The rubber crumb ban will not apply in the UK
Reality: While the European Union’s new REACH legislation will require all member states to comply, non-members states such as the UK will be able to make their own decision on whether they will implement these rules. In this sense, it remains to be seen whether the rubber crumb ban will apply in the UK, though the expectation is that the Government will move to mirror the actions of continental member states.
Myth #4: Sports fields containing rubber crumb will not be able to be used following the implementation of the ban
Reality: Incorrect. While the sale and installation of new rubber crumb infill will be restricted from 2031, use of fields already containing these substances will remain fully legal. Following this date, synthetic turf fields will remain critical to the provision of sport in the interests of aiding public health and creating accessible outdoor spaces, particularly in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
Myth #5: there are no alternatives to rubber crumb infill
Reality: On the contrary, a number of alternatives to polymeric infills are already available for purchase, with many more being actively developed with the support of ESTC during this vital transition period in the run-up to 2031. These include a number of natural infills such as cork, processed olive stones and wood chip, alongside a selection of non-infill synthetic turf systems.
Synthetic turf industry among the first to adopt new European Commission Sustainability Framework
In an effort to help synthetic turf manufacturers more clearly and accurately signpost the environmental performance of their products, the ESTC has announced the launch of a new life cycle assessment (LCA) tool.
The new tool has been put in place as the official mechanism for the synthetic turf industry in Europe but is also available for voluntary use by stakeholders elsewhere in the world, with licenses available to both members and non-members upon request.
It has been developed to align with the European Commission’s new Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) that provide guidance for the calculation and reporting of environmental impacts of the entire product life cycle of synthetic turf surfaces.
The synthetic turf industry is among the first to volunteer to implement industry-specific category rules as it looks to underline its commitment to transparency around environmental impact and affirm its status as a forward-thinking industry with sustainability as one of its principal core values.
The new Category Rules have been developed in close collaboration with the European Commission (EC), as well as LCA specialists, and international sports federations including UEFA and FIFA.
Together with consultant PRé Sustainability, ESTC has developed a software tool that consistently calculates accurate environmental impact results aligned with the PEFCR.
The aim of the tool is to simplify both input and output for synthetic turf manufacturers, by only collecting mandatory, company-specific data. Results are then presented as single score figures via a non-expert dashboard. Crucially, this offers comparable, fair results between different products and industry benchmarks, resulting in greater standardisation of environmental claims across different companies and products.
Stefan Diderich (above), CEO of ESTC, said: “As an industry, we recognise the need for greater transparency around the environmental impact of our products, as we help specifiers and buyers to make much more informed decisions around the synthetic turf they choose to invest in.
“We volunteered to be one of the first to adopt the European Commission’s new Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules to underline our commitment to environmental sustainability, which remains one of our core values at ESTC.
“By developing the tool, we can also meet the needs of those SMEs that don’t have the in-house teams, time or budgets to validate and follow good-quality LCA processes, but have a vital role to play in delivering products which minimise environmental impact.”
Visit the Product Environmental Footprint for Synthetic Turf website for more information.