According to the 2022 edition of the “Global Plastics Outlook” by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), only 9% of all international plastic waste is recycled. In contrast, the processing capacity of all European companies that are recognised as synthetic turf recyclers, will soon get close to at least half of the annual volume that is removed from projects on the continent. “Developing the recycling process was a challenge, but since we got up and running, it has become more a matter of fine-tuning the process,” Eric van Roekel of GBN-AGR in the Netherlands says. His company was established with the backing of TenCate Grass and Sport and Leisure Group and their associated brands and partners, as well as Edel Grass and its Dutch partner Antea Group. GBN-AGR uses a wet mechanical process and came online in 2020. Parallel to the increase in production, Van Roekel has witnessed a growing demand for the materials. “Ever since the Dutch norm for stabilizing sand for synthetic turf carpets was updated, the demand has been rising. And with TPE infill being very expensive, we have managed to sell a large volume to field owners all over Europe who just wanted to top up their field to extend its lifespan.” Recycled polymeric performance infill will help bridge the period once the sale of this type of product is banned from 2031 onwards.