What was once considered a smart way to reduce maintenance and create the ‘forever’ playing surface or lawn, has turned into a disaster that is unfolding before our eyes, as this synthetic material deteriorates, breaking up into millions of tiny pieces almost impossible to clean up.
Did no one stop to consider that all human manufactured products made from fossil fuels would have a use-by-date, after which it would need to be gathered up and disposed of. Apparently not.
This post begins with some good news, but the final stories will require the concerted efforts of many, if society is to contain the spread of artificial turf as it breaks up under the feet of athletes and others over the coming months and years. Knowing what we know, the question to be asked: From here on in, should we still be able to buy and install this product?
As a place to fix, mend, and connect, repair cafes battle loneliness as well as waste, by Emma Hannigan, ABC Gold Coast. 13 Feb 2025.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-13/fixing-more-than-broken-stuff-the-growing-impact-of-repair-cafes/104727868
My no-plastic life: I tried to cut out single-use items for a month – and it almost broke me, Emma Beddington. The Guardian, Wed 12 Feb 2025.
Sourcing fruit and veg without wrapping was hard enough, but finding an eco-friendly way to brush my teeth was its own world of pain. And as for my 6pm crisps fix – forget it.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/12/my-no-plastic-life-i-tried-to-cut-out-single-use-items-for-a-month-and-it-almost-broke-me
EcoMob working to turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil booster, Victoria Ellis, ABC Rural. Tue 11 Feb, 2025.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-11/darwin-ecomob-turning-food-waste-into-soil-booster/104904292
25 First Nations Caring for Country resources to use in the lead up, to Clean Up Australia Day.
Writer’s picture: Miss Gibbs, Miss Gibbs. Feb 27, 2022.
https://www.missgibbs.com/post/25-first-nations-caring-for-country-resources-to-use-in-the-lead-up-to-clean-up-australia-day
‘Everyone has an impact’: how to start reducing your environmental footprint, Madeleine Aggeler. The Guardian, 31 Jan 2025.
https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2025/jan/30/how-reduce-environmental-footprint
Artificial Turf – The real horror story, David Hedges-Gower. Pitchcare – Serving the turfcare industry. March 04, 2020. Editorial.
https://www.pitchcare.com/blogs/news/artificial-turf-the-real-horror-story
Why would anyone replace a key sustainable component of our living environment with a coal and oil-derived product, one of only limited life span and almost impossible to recycle? When the entire planet is waging war on unnecessary plastics and the climate emergency, what is it that persuades consumers to make this terrible choice? And why cover children’s sports fields in products that can harm their health? Why on earth does anyone choose artificial grass? And why does the Government do nothing about it? David Hedges-Gower wants some answers.
The reason is threefold: 1) skillful marketing, 2) the absence of product and consumer information, and 3) the lack of industry and product regulation. It doesn’t matter where your priorities lie, from saving the planet to saving your pennies; seen from any angle this is clearly a scandal. So, before it is too late, we must dig deeper and expose the murky truths behind this phenomenon – and help stem a slowly emerging environmental disaster. Let’s address the three areas of blame, in turn, starting with marketing, a brilliant lesson in consumer exploitation – and an opportunity to debunk some untruths.
How do you market an unsustainable product and promote the destruction of the living environment? You do it by being economic with your information. People want convenience, and so that’s how the industry sells it. “Why not replace the chore of turf care with a maintenance-free alternative?” they ask. People want to be responsible too, so they also ask: “And why not help save the planet by getting rid of your petrol mower?”
But translate this into straight-talking and you get: “Why not replace nature’s lungs with a petro-chemical product that damages rather than helps the environment, a product that does indeed require maintenance and will need replacing every ten years or so?” And remember, there’s only one recycling centre that, in theory, can deal with this stuff – and it’s in Denmark and is not currently operable! Full story at the link above.
Concern as deteriorating sports fields lead to the spread of plastic, rubber in NSW, Mikala Theocharous. 9News, Jan 30, 2025.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/concern-as-torn-up-synthetic-grass-fields-create-plastic-waste-potential-health-hazards-in-nsw/5e9cd925-5402-4733-a024-aa08fc79519d
Anyone with artificial grass in garden hit with warning, By Alex Evans, The Express, UK. Jan 20, 2025.
Gardeners who have artificial grass in their garden have been hit with a warning as the weather turns cold again.
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/garden/2002890/anyone-artificial-grass-garden-hit
Turf it out: is it time to say goodbye to artificial grass? Isabella Kaminski. The Guardian, 2 Aug 2019.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/aug/02/turf-it-out-is-it-time-to-say-goodbye-to-artificial-grass
It’s neat, easy – and a staggering £2bn global market. But as plastic grass takes over our cities, some say that it’s green only in colour.
It’s Time to Ban Plastic Grass, Kelly LaVaute, Staff Member, Garden for Wildlife, Published on May 04 2023, Updated on February 08 2025.
https://gardenforwildlife.com/blogs/learning-center/call-to-ban-fake-grass
It’s time to talk about the ugly truth behind plastic grass. A lush, green lawn is one thing, but at what cost to the environment? Let’s take a closer look at the problems with plastic grass and why it’s time to ban it altogether.
