Hauraton has received the Environmental Technology Award of the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, for a gutter filter that filters microplastics, PAHs or heavy metals from the drainage of synthetic turf sports fields.

PAHs and heavy metals can be found in crumb rubber, the cheapest infill material available for third generation synthetic turf fields. They were vital components for the car tyre the material once used to be but have no purpose in a synthetic turf field. Several studies have concluded that these components can pollute the environment and can pose a threat to human health. The components can pollute the water that runs through the synthetic turf system into the drainage system. The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) is currently discussing a directive that will demand that crumb rubber is allowed to only contain 20mg/kg PAHs.

Infill, be it crumb rubber or infill made from any other rubber or plastic, also sheds small particles that can be considered being microplastics. ECHA is currently on a drive to intro new legislation that should prevent 400,000 tonnes of microplastics polluting the world in the coming 20 years.

Hauraton has now introduced a filter that, according to the company, should have an efficiency of over 98 percent in arresting microplastic particles, PAHs and heavy metals from infill material. The Sportfix Clean is to be combined with the line drainage. Hauraton received EUR 100,000 from the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy in Baden-Württemberg to further market the filter.