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The future of synthetic turf

27th IAKS Congress
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In the next ten years over 20.000 artificial turf systems in Europe need to be replaced. The first session in the morning of Day 4 at the 27th IAKS Congress will show alternative solutions to use the waste of existing systems as raw material source for new artificial turf systems. Methods to overcome the obstacles of down-cycling, burning, and landfill technologies will be discussed. And what role do the International Federations' (IF) synthetic field performance standards play?

CONGRESS PROGRAMME

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photo: MET

Aas Björn potrait

Bjorn Aas, Center for Sports Facilities & Technology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

Challenges to the future of synthetic turf surfaces

The synthetic turf market is among the fastest growing segments of the global sports facilities market. With football, rugby and American football as the main drivers, more sports and activities are calling for access, with more or less specific demands with respect to surface properties, field size etc. With an increasing attention to sustainable society development, this market segment is not an exception. Question is how to implement global codes for product design, system design as well as operation and maintenance applicable for regions where such systems have been on the market for 30-40 years and at the same time within reach for new market with less experience in procurement, construction and operation. How to combine users preferences, sports federation’s regulations and economics as well as ecological sustainability?

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Martin Sheppard, Managing Director, Smart Connection Consultancy, Australia

Hierarchy of performance standards for synthetic turf pitches

The International Federations' (IF) synthetic field performance standards should be seen as the start of the defining process to ensure that the fields being procured are fit for purpose and not assume that their standards are correct for every project across the globe. By understanding the outcome of any individual project, the IF standards, the quality of the subsurface and the local construction techniques will allow you identify performance standards should be considered for each type of project. This presentation will explore the core standards that need to be considered, together with the aspirational standards (above and below the ground) linked affordability, life expectancy, site considerations, and usability, providing a simple a hierarchy of standards.

Göpfert

Dr. Cornelia Röger-Göpfert, Managing Director, Morton Extrusionstechnik, Germany

Circular Economy: How end-of-life artificial turf becomes raw material for new artificial turf systems

In the next ten years over 20.000 artificial turf systems in Europe need to be replaced. This creates over two million tons of plastic waste. Today this plastic waste from the old artificial turf systems is incinerated to generate energy, or is ending “half legal” on landfills. Burning this waste will emit about five million tons of CO₂. The presentation will show alternative solutions to use this waste as raw material source for new artificial turf systems.

Arnoud Fiolet

Arnoud Fiolet, Managing Partner, Recreational Systems International, Netherlands

Zero waste development of synthetic turf: New materials creating circularity

This session will show latest trends including waste management protocols, an innovation initiative by the Dutch government, new artificial turf material allowing artificial turf to be re-used in artificial turf. Methods to overcome the obstacles of down-cycling, burning, landfill technologies will be explained. New business - financial models enter the artificial turf industry.

See the impressive line up of panellists. Learn how to get to the IAKS Congress and why attend

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