Meanwhile, a lot has happened on the artificial grass waste front. In 2018, Zembla covered recycling companies that took in artificial grass mats for a lot of money but then did nothing with them. The old mats lay towering on the site and were polluting the environment. Now several years later, a lot has already changed for the better in this area.
With GreenMatter, we have taken the lead in recycling waste from artificial grass fields and reprocessing the artificial grass into new products for on and around the sports field and beyond. Our mission has therefore been from the start; to convert the waste from artificial grass pitches into a circular raw material stream by manufacturing recycled products. Because it had become apparent that the artificial grass waste problem was not solved by just collecting the worn-out mats. We are proud to report that we have recycled around 82 artificial grass pitches since GreenMatter started. Considering the number of artificial grass pitches of 200 replaced on average every year, there is still plenty of work to be done, but we are definitely moving in the right direction. In addition, the use of recycled materials delivers environmental benefits. According to CE Delft, using mechanically recycled plastic yields a CO2 gain of 2.6 to 4.6 kilos (depending on the type of plastic), per kilogram of recycled plastic used.
At the beginning of our existence, our product range was still modest. One of our first products was the side board. Because with this board made of recycled synthetic turf, you kill two birds with one stone. By applying this product, municipalities contribute to their legal duty of care to keep the infill on the pitch and prevent the spread of microplastics. It also makes a significant contribution to reducing artificial grass waste. This was a great start for GreenMatter, as the old artificial grass pitches that were replaced came back as side boards around the new artificial pitches. We have since been able to provide many artificial grass pitches with recycled artificial grass boards. But whereas an artificial grass pitch needs to be replaced every 8 to 10 years, our boards have an expected lifespan of 50 years and therefore last much longer and will need to be replaced less often.
Expansion of product range
In order to still be able to serve our clients and offer them the opportunity to keep the worn-out artificial grass pitches in the municipality coming back, we have not been idle since and have expanded our product range. These include outdoor furniture, hockey boards, locker room fixtures, fitness platforms, fishing piers, planters, deck planks for bridges, river bank protection, etc. We are also currently busy developing new interesting products. Keep an eye on us for that.
We are proud of the many clients -including several municipalities- who are serious about implementing various circular solutions. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that we achieve a fully circular (sports) environment.
