European synthetic turf council pledges support for rubber infill alternatives

Brussels – The EMEA Synthetic Turf Council (ESTC) has pledged support for sustainable alternatives to granular rubber infill in response to EU restrictions set to be imposed on the product category.

Under the new REACH rules, adopted in September last year, the sale of end-of-life tire (ELT) rubber infill will be prohibited from 2031 following an eight-year transitional period.

“The European Commission’s decision is based on the environmental credentials of SBR infill and is not due to any proven negative health risks posed by the material,” said ESTC technical director professor Alastair Cox.

More than 100 studies, he emphasised, have been undertaken since the late 1990s, with “all validating the safety of synthetic turf with an SBR infill.”

Cox went on to say that the synthetic turf industry, like many other sectors, is targeting the wider adoption of products and processes which minimise environmental impact.

“We have a firm commitment to achieving this goal and will be supporting both our members and their customers to pave the way to a more sustainable future,” he added in a 22 Feb statement.

According to ESTC, a number of manufacturers have so far developed “a variety of alternatives” to the commonly used ELT infill.

“The synthetic turf industry is prepared to continue its phased introduction of [such materials],” added the industry body.

ESTC will, therefore, promote the benefits of bio-sourced infill, as well as infill made from recycled materials, to customers and end-users.

A number of natural infills are available on today’s market, ranging from cork, processed olive stones, and wood chip.

The council recently announced that it is close to finalising a new set of category rules under the EC’s product environmental footprint methodology.

The rules will enable specifiers and buyers to better identify the manufacturers, installers, maintenance specialists and recycling facilities operating in the most sustainable manner.

“We recognise the need to educate the marketplace on how important it is to look beyond the price of infill and consider environmental impact in order to establish these as the preferred options,” said Cox.

Although a complete ban on the sale of SBR infills is still years away, Cox said ESTC would be working with members to raise the profile of alternative materials.

This, he said, ensures that the market “continues its transition as quickly and as smoothly as possible”.