Europe puts an end to artificial rubber grass fields. The European Commission has imposed the disappearance of this type of sports facilities within a period of eight years, since they are the largest emitters of microplastics into the environment. A measure that will mean the elimination of more than 10,000 playing fields for Spain, according to 'El Confidencial'. In addition, around 400 are built or renovated in the country every year.
Natural surfaces prevail in professional practice, more specifically in football, where the playing field is made up of grass. However, in the amateur and lower categories, artificial surfaces allow thousands of training sessions and matches to be carried out due to their low maintenance cost, once these facilities are built. Also in the case of other sports such as rugby, hockey or paddle tennis, among others.
The IGOID research group of the University of Castilla-La Mancha through the European project, Circular and safe solution for synthetic turf pitches (LIFET4C), supports the cause of the European Commission and seeks to obtain a prototype of an experimental field to find some possible solutions to this problem.
The surface of artificial grasses is made of polyethylene (fiber) and rests on a polyurethane or latex base. Below, in addition to a large amount of sand, is hidden granules from recycled tires, which offer great cushioning. The rubber filling is the element that is in the spotlight due to the large amount of particle emissions it emits.
The Royal Spanish Federation (RFEF) has joined the cause of the group of experts from La Mancha who are dedicated to carrying out tests and evaluations of sports surfaces, from rugby fields to basketball courts. "There are billions of euros at stake in this," says Leonor Gallardo Guerrero, professor in Physical and Sports Education and head of the project, in statements to El Confidencial. The solutions to solve this problem range from the search for completely sustainable materials, of recycled origin, to the combination of natural and synthetic materials or bioplastics.
