New artificial turf from old plastic waste?

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INITIAL PILOT PROJECTS AT TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM AND SV HAMMERSCHMIEDE

Author Rolf Haas, Deputy Chairman of IAKS Deutschland e.V. Contact Kai Weber-Gemmel, FieldTurf, kai.weber-gemmel@tarkett.com

Artificial turf pitches are of great importance because they can be put to intense use, are not affected by the weather and are functionally suitable for sport. They are used for training and competition in various sports, including football, hockey, tennis, American football and rugby and on numerous multipurpose playing surfaces. Depending on the intensity of their use and maintenance, artificial turf pitches have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, after which the surface has to be replaced. When selecting a new product, there is growing interest in the question „How GREEN is a modern artificial turf?“

The raw material from which the plastic for the production of plastic turf fibres is obtained is a decisive factor. The focus is on how petroleum can be replaced as the raw material for the plastic turf fibre. The research and development department of Morton Extrusionstechnik GmbH (MET) in Abtsteinach is working on this challenge. Through its cooperation with TotalEnergies, a solution is emerging:

Pyrolysis oil as the new raw material Pyrolysis oil is obtained by recycling mixed plastic waste, also known as feedstock recycling. Chemical recycling is a more environmentally friendly alternative to incinerating, landfilling or exporting plastic waste. The SURETECTM fibre Morton Extrusionstechnik has developed a new plastic turf fibre with plastics from pyrolysis oil: the SURETECTM fibre = Sustainable – Recycling – Technology fibre. The innovative fibre can consist of up to 100 % recycled plastic and scores on the following points: • The fibre makes a positive contribution to environmental protection, as the raw material used is obtained by recycling plastic waste, • reduces carbon emissions, as the plastic waste is not incinerated but converted into a new raw material, • ensures an artificial turf of virgin quality, as the artificial turf fibre made from pyrolysis oil has the same properties as products made from fossil resources,

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1 Mixed plastic waste (Photo: Total Energies) 2 Polyethylen (Photo: MET) 3 Fibre production (Photo: MET) 4 Installation of the new pitch at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s Youth Academy, spreading of the granulated olive stone infill (Photo: K. Nutzinger)

• is transparently certified: independent auditors monitor the ISCC Plus certification (International Sustainability and

Carbon Certification) and thus ensure the traceability of the recycled content in the product (mass-balance approach).

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim For the first time in Germany, a field with fibers based on SURETECTM technology was installed in the TSG 1899 Hoffenheim junior training centre. The author spoke to Rafael Hoffner, Head of IT / Infrastructure at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim Fußball-Spielbetriebs GmbH.

Question: A new synthetic turf was installed in the TSG 1899 Hoffenheim junior training centre in August 2021. When it comes to fibers, you rely on SURETECTM technology. Why did you choose this approach?

Hoffner: “We were won over by the philosophy of this product innovation: the fibres of our FieldTurf PUREFIELD Ultra HD are made entirely of plastic that is 100 % recycled plastic waste. In this way, we help to conserve resources, prevent waste and protect the climate. A great idea: new plastic turf from old plastic waste.”

Question: To prevent microplastics from entering the environment, the FieldTurf PUREFIELD ULTRA HD has an infill of granulated olive pips. How are the players at the training centre getting along with this new type of organic infill?

Hoffner: “TSG’s youth teams train on the new artificial turf pitch. After the first training sessions, the unanimous verdict was that it is in no way inferior to our other artificial turf pitches.”

Internal plastic turf cycle The artificial turf removed at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is being re-used at a neighbouring club. The EoL (End of Life) artificial turf is mechanically recycled at Morton Extrusionstechnik and converted into EoL agglomerate. This internal plastic turf cycle at FieldTurf is in line with the principles of the European Green Deal to promote efficient resource use and transition to a circular economy.

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5 FieldTurf Purefield Ultra HD with ISCC Plus-certified artificial turf fibres made using mixed plastic waste based on the mass-balance approach (Photo: MET)

Climate-neutral sports facilities These innovations by FieldTurf have been realised not only at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, but also at SV Hammerschmiede. The author spoke to Franz-Josef Eger, owner of Eger & Partner Landschaftsarchitekten BDLA from Augsburg, about the SV Hammerschmiede project.

Question: You have been designing sports facilities and open spaces for more than 20 years and enjoy an excellent reputation as an expert and forward thinker. What has changed in recent years in terms of the goals of design?

Eger: “As landscape architects, we are aware of our responsibility towards society and want to make our contribution to achieving climate policy goals right from the design stage. The ultimate goal must be the design and construction of sustainable and climate-neutral sports facilities.” Question: As a designer, what kind of support would you like to see from government or rather the legislator?

Eger: “I would like to see the political leaders actively follow up on their full-bodied announcements on how the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is to be achieved within certain deadlines. In this context, government should encourage if not insist on sports facility planning that respects the life cycles of construction materials in economic and ecological terms, promotes the use of recyclable and ecologically sensible products along the lines of the circular economy, calls for the use of recycled products and strives for a neutral carbon footprint. As with buildings with the subsidised efficiency house standards, there must be subsidised efficiency sports facility standards.”