Overview

This project is dedicated to develop eco-innovation techniques which reduce the environmental impact of artificial turf pitches when they are removed. 

ECOTURF, project contributes to the fight against climate change, develops operations to extend the service life of synthetic turf in order to reduce the tons of “non dangerous” waste which are generated after its end of life period.

In the last years artificial turf surfaces have increased since they need less maintenance operations and can be used more a lot hours than natural grass. Just as an example, approximately 400 artificial turf pitches per year are installed just in a national level.

In this context it has to be considered that service life of artificial turf surfaces is limited; there is a gradual loss of properties during its use, but can be recovered by performing specific maintenance operations. These techniques extend the service life in order to be safe for sports practice.

Concers on the high environmental impact caused for these superficies are the reason of this project. The installed material in a soccer pitch is more than 100 tons just before being withdrawn, and they are directly moved to landfill sites.

ECOTURF will serve to extend the service life of pitches as much as possible through optimal maintenance operations and recycling and reusing suitable to be recycled.