LigaTurf Cross football turf has become an absolute model of success since it was launched on the market. For FSB 2019 in Cologne, Polytan took the turf another logical step further, adding the component of sustainability. The fibres of new LigaTurf Cross GT consist of up to 80% bio-based PE plastic. That, along with additional in-process measures, have made it the first CO2-neutral synthetic football turf in the world. The bio-based plastic used for the new LigaTurf Cross GT is called I’m green(TM) polyethylene and is manufactured by the Brazilian world market leader, Braskem. It is extracted from sugar cane, a renewable raw material, far from the Amazon region. Another decisive environmental aspect for Polytan is that the sugar cane is cultivated first and foremost for the production of food: only the third pressing, which can no longer be used for table sugar, is used to manufacture the bioplastic.
Polytan currently produces the fibres for the LigaTurf Cross GT synthetic turf from I’m green(TM) polyethylene – accounting for a share of up to 80%. That ensures the optimum environmental balance, because this bio-based raw material allows more than two metric tons of CO2 to be saved for every ton of material that is used for the fibre filaments. Over a complete football pitch, this adds up to about 56 tons of CO2. This is the basis for the CO2-neutrality of new LigaTurf Cross CT. It is ultimately achieved thanks to a whole raft of measures introduced by Polytan, including switching the entire production in Grefrath over to 100% green electricity and optimising the manufacture of the back coating of the synthetic turf. This CO2-neutral eco-balance of LigaTurf Cross GT enhances the attractiveness of the artificial turf for clubs and local authorities still further, because in addition to the high player comfort delivered by the smooth filaments and the extremely hard-wearing and easy-to-maintain properties of the textured filaments, it also meets high environmental standards.
photo: Polytan GmbH
