The State of Upper Austria has instructed the recommencement of synthetic turf installations that had been stopped for environmental concerns. The state only accepts non-filled synthetic turf fields. installing companies are also expected to adhere to environmental friendly installation processes.
Several projects came to a halt last year when concerns were raised about the use of plastic granules in between the grass blades. The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) is currently working on plans to ban the use of additional added microplastics like infill for synthetic turf, from 2021.
The already planned places in Pischelsdorf am Engelbach, Gunskirchen, Pasching, Perg, Natternbach, Schenkenfelden and Kremsmünster are to be built according to the new guideline.
Sand instead of granules
The EU had announced that it would carry out an audit but had not yet presented any results. The state of Upper Austria has now come before a decision: “We will generally do without plastic granules and rely on an environmentally friendly version with specially grained sand, which has been installed all over Europe already and has excellent references in terms of playing properties,” said State Councilor Markus Achleitner. The ÖISS, the Austrian Institute for School and Sports Facility Construction, also gave this type of synthetic turf a positive rating.
The EU had announced that it would carry out an audit but had not yet presented any results. The state of Upper Austria has now come before a decision: “We will generally do without plastic granules and rely on an environmentally friendly version with specially grained sand, which has been installed all over Europe already and has excellent references in terms of playing properties,” said State Councilor Markus Achleitner. The ÖISS, the Austrian Institute for School and Sports Facility Construction, also gave this type of synthetic turf a positive rating.