PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
There are currently 20 000 fields made of synthetic turf in the EU and this is expected to grow by 10% per year. In addition, 2 000 such fields need renewal every year. However, only 10% of materials produced for synthetic turf sports fields are reused or recycled. As the average lifetime of these fields is 10 years, the need for cost-effective renewal and recycling solutions is growing each year. Meanwhile, removed synthetic turf creates 600 000 tonnes of waste (plastic, rubber, sand) each year. Artificial turf materials are not handled in a sustainable and circular way because the industry lacks the specific analysis and tools forming a baseline for the reuse process.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of LIFETURF was to demonstrate a new model for managing sports fields made of synthetic turf, focused on the principle of reduce, reuse, recover and recycle.
The projects specific objectives were to:
- Develop and demonstrate the technical feasibility and the environmental and economic sustainability of a new business and consumption model (mainly as self-service platform software). This will be based on an integrated management system for municipal synthetic sports fields, allowing the removal, reuse, reduction, recovery and recycling of synthetic turf, maximising the efficient local use of resources (plastic, rubber, sand, etc.);
- Integrate the model into a circular supply chain where the end-of-life synthetic turf is separated, processed and recycled to make new products, minimising the quantity of mixed waste incinerated and landfilled as well as related environmental impacts in terms of air, water and soil pollution and greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions;
- Create a comprehensive system for managing synthetic turf sports fields in a fully carbon neutral way, through the application of a carbon footprint calculator which quantifies the GHG emissions and identifies the related compensation measures; and
- Increase awareness about the new model, replicating and transferring it at European scale, in particular in Mediterranean regions. Starting from four pilot areas in Perugia (Italy), Consorci de la Ribera (Spain), Evosmos (Greece) and Zadar (Croatia) the model, and the supporting tools created for its implementation, will be assessed and fine-tuned in order to replicate and transfer them to other European cities.
Expected results were:
- 90% of used synthetic turf field materials reused, corresponding to around 4 300 tonnes of mixed waste prevented from going to landfill during the project;
- 100% of synthetic turf field infill materials reused for renovating sports fields;
- 10% of removed synthetic turf recycled and 90% reinstalled;
- At least one new product developed from recycled old turf;
- On-site technology demonstrated in all pilot areas;
- Low carbon footprint of reusing materials proven through officially approved life-cycle assessment calculation five times less GHG emitted per field compared to using new materialExpected results:
- 90% of used synthetic turf field materials reused, corresponding to around 4 300 tonnes of mixed waste prevented from going to landfill during the project;
- 100% of synthetic turf field infill materials reused for renovating sports fields;
- 10% of removed synthetic turf recycled and 90% reinstalled;
- At least one new product developed from recycled old turf;
- On-site technology demonstrated in all pilot areas;
- Low carbon footprint of reusing materials proven through officially approved life-cycle assessment calculation five times less GHG emitted per field compared to using new material
RESULTS
Project activities were not implemented as foreseen
