Benvic set to win with artificial sports surfaces

New European regulations regarding microplastics are set to revolutionize the management of plastic materials in the external environment. Microplastics have been regarded negatively for some time now. One consequence of the new EU laws will be to ban their use as an additive in various product applications.

Insight

The new European directive

targets a number of product applications – including polymerically-made turf infills for sports arenas and similar infrastructure builds and projects.

Although these new laws will not be effective until 2031, Europe’s leading independent polymer compounder, Benvic, is preparing for the change now.

In fact, there are very good reasons for Benvic’s solutions right now since the average sports field life-span is only approximately ten years. Future minded architects, engineers, investors and local authorities are therefore currently assessing the future alternative infills that can be used.

Traditional thermoplastic elastomer materials (TPEs) are seen to be under threat and some non-polymer alternatives are part of the options.

These include:

  • Oganic: cork or grinded olive core,
  • Mineral infill from different stone or sans
  • Non infill solution where target is integrating the infill function

However, these options also have plenty of limitations, including:

  • A poor and rigid performance in terms of the mechanical response sports surface; producing a bad playing experience and injury. Polymeric solutions, on the other hand, can be adapt to the required playing experience by simply modulating the material performance to suit the game.
  • Natural and unmanageable material degradation with some solutions, especially organic ones - making extensive maintenance and additive costs necessary.
  • Sensitiveness to temperature – especially icy conditions - creating a dangerous “concrete effect” that combines humidity and negative temperatures.
  • Polymeric solutions are much less sensitive to this factor – and better suited to cold climate areas
  • Demand for extra resources, especially for produced on-purpose infill without recycling possibilities
The new European directive

Most in the industry therefore agree that the new challenge is to re-engineer and upgrade polymeric infill solutions without the microplastics factor.

It is evident that the polymeric solution has many advantages that other materials cannot supply. In addition, TPE based infill materials can also be recycled at the end of their life, further lowering the overall environmental footprint.

For these reasons, BENVIC, as a key infill producer is now currently upgrading its TPE ranges - Terra, Holo and Forgrin - in order to ‘future proof’ this part of the built environment and to keep its customers ahead of the environmental and technical curve.

Most in the industry therefore agree that the new challenge is to re-engineer and upgrade polymeric infill solutions without the microplastics factor.

The new Benvic programme will:

  • Guaranteed the infill material characteristics to be microplastics-free, while maintaining and improving the performance options required.
  • Develop post-use and recycled material options in order to give the same customers even an even better environmental performance and the opportunity to be part of closed-loop system.

Benvic’s high levels of material know-how are key to the successful implementation of these changes – formulating materials at just the right level between athletic and eco-performance while also opening up the sector to a future of mechanical recycling possibilities.

Validated by promising preliminary results, Benvic is set to release its microplastic-compliant products within the first half of 2025.

For more information, the exclusive sales representative Terra Sport Technology BV can be contacted at m.smit[@]terrasportstech.com

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