The European Union continues its model emission reduction contaminants and football becomes one of the affected. First it was the glitter and now the microplastics where more than ten thousand soccer fields have been built artificial grass throughout Spain.
Rubber has its origin in tire recycled. Almost 50% of discarded tires become millions of rubber particles reused for cushioning in artificial soccer fields.
The European Commission stated that the material is one, if not the most, of the largest polluting particle emitters in the environment. The fact is that the material in question is the second most polluting on the planet and most affected by climate change.
For this reason, the European Commission has concluded that from 2031 construction will be prohibited of soccer fields containing microplastics smaller than 5 mm, which is what rubber is, although there are other less common variables.
Despite this prohibition, fields that have already been built will not have that obligation untiebut even so, its maintenance will have more obstacles than ease and if there is no possibility to use rubber it will be more complicated.
Are there alternatives to rubber?
One of the questions that presidents of clubs that only have artificial rubber fields are sure to ask is whether they can actually find one. alternative in a material that facilitated the construction and maintenance of thousands of soccer fields in Spain and throughout Europe. The truth is there is.
Joan Collettformer president of RCD Espanyol and leader of Sports and Landscapea pioneer company in alerting the world of football about the possible ban, explained to Mundo Deportivo the alternative proposed by his company and which is already implemented in some playing fields, such as the Aitana Bonmatí Conca Football Field, in Sant Pere de Grapes. , or the one used in the final of Kings League within Civitas Metropolitanamong many others.
According to colletunder artificial grass a reusable plastic elastic base which replaces the cushioning provided by today’s rubber. A base of about two centimeters that can remain intact for 30 years. Artificial grass has an average lifespan of fifteen years, half that. In the case of grass replacement, no need to change the elastic base and can be maintained in the actual life of two lawns.
He lawn without rubber It will contain only flint sand, so it will reach from six to four centimeters. It will also make the grass denser, with more stitches and, obviously, more sustainable.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
