FAQ 11 The Challenges of Sports Fields

More in this section

• Teamwork
• ESG Criteria
• Safe Grounds
• Ecological Transition
• Benefit Activities
• FAQ 01 Issues in Fields
• FAQ 02 Player Safety
• FAQ 03 The Risks of Rubber
• FAQ 04 Zinc in Rubber
• FAQ 05 Advice to Players
• FAQ 06 How does POWERgrass solve?
• FAQ 07 Sports Fields Standards
• FAQ 08 Hours of play per week
• FAQ 09 Cost-Benefit Analysis
• FAQ 10 Regular vs Extraordinary
• FAQ 11 The Challenges of Sports Fields
• FAQ 12 Environmental standards and the field
• FAQ 13 Meaning of Sustainable Fields
• FAQ 14 Fields and Greenwashing

What are the challenges associated with the maintenance of grass playing fields and the disposal of old synthetic grass fields? How does the POWERgrass hybrid system solve this?

Keeping grass playing fields in optimal condition requires constant commitment, which includes activities such as regular mowing, irrigation, line marking, fertilization, weed control, and pest management. Damage caused by intensive use and extreme weather conditions can render the fields unusable or require costly repair interventions.

On the other hand, synthetic grass fields, while requiring less maintenance, need to be replaced after about 10 years. In addition, the disposal of old synthetic fields poses a significant environmental problem, given their non-biodegradability and legislative restrictions on landfill disposal.

There are also significant and unexpected costs related to the disposal of end-of-life synthetic fields, often not even foreseen by the most experienced designers. For example, in 2023 in the Municipality of Siena, a cost increase had to be faced to dispose of the rubber and sand present in the synthetic field, which turned out to be eco-toxic waste due to excessive zinc.

A possible solution to these issues is represented by the POWERgrass hybrid system, which combines the advantages of natural and synthetic grass, improving the environmental impact. This system uses a special mat with a three-dimensional network that supports the synthetic fibers and strengthens the natural grass, reducing the required maintenance.

Furthermore, the POWERgrass system facilitates the disposal of fields at the end of their life, as the synthetic fibers are completely recyclable; in addition, the system can be reused to reinforce children's play areas or stabilize embankments. Lastly, the reduced need for water and fertilizers, combined with the elimination of pesticides, makes the impact on the environment overall positive.

In summary, the challenges related to the maintenance of grass playing fields and the disposal of synthetic fields can be effectively managed with the use of the POWERgrass hybrid system, which improves wear resistance, reduces required maintenance, and produces less waste, promoting environmental sustainability.