Synthetic grass made from biobased materials unveiled in Ellwangen
In the picturesque city of Ellwangen, a significant stride has been made in the realm of sports and sustainability. The first bio-based artificial turf pitch, a project spearheaded by the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection, has been installed. This innovative development is part of a larger initiative, the "Sustainable Artificial Turf Pitch - Development and Investigation" project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Homeland.
The new pitch offers several advantages, including high-quality sports facilities, reduced microplastics, and an ecologically compatible infrastructure. The use of previous infill granulate for artificial turf pitches has been associated with significant environmental disadvantages, and estimates by the European Chemicals Agency suggest up to 16,000 tons of microplastics enter the environment annually from such pitches. The bio-based alternative aims to address these concerns.
Baden-Württemberg, a global leader in the development of bioplastics, is well-positioned to lead this innovation. Research institutions like the Institute for Plastics Technology at the University of Stuttgart and companies like TECNARO in Ilsfeld have been instrumental in this achievement.
The bioeconomy strategy of Baden-Württemberg, encapsulated in the Landesstrategie "Nachhaltige Bioökonomie Baden-Württemberg" (LSNB), encourages the development of ecological and innovative technologies. The LSNB, which will be continued until 2029, involves departments of Education and Science, Research, Environmental Protection, and Sports. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection is also involved in the LSNB.
The popularity of artificial turf pitches is on the rise due to their year-round usability and ease of maintenance. With the introduction of the bio-based pitch, Ellwangen is setting an example for other cities to follow, promoting not just high-quality sports facilities, but also a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach.
The project is supervised by the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V., and the organization accompanying the project is the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt). For more information about the LSNB, you can contact the Press Office or the Citizen Liaison Officer. The goal of the LSNB is to make Baden-Württemberg a leading region for bio-based, circular economy, and the Ellwangen project is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
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