If you have ever played soccer or any other sport on a synthetic soccer field, then you have an idea of how annoying the little, black rubber granules can be. You end up finding them everywhere for weeks on end.
But how do they affect our environment and more specifically, the water? This was the question we asked ourselves, and the question we wanted to find out. But first we wanted to understand why we even polluted our environment with these in the first place.
Here are some of the reasons that we have them:
- The synthetic grass can be used more often and always gives the same playing conditions for the athletes
- The synthetic grass can withstand all types of weather. It doesn’t get wet and muddy and the grass doesn’t dry out in warm weather.
- It’s easy to maintain. Natural grass needs to be watered and needs to get cut every so often as well as the white lines must get painted. So synthetic grass saves money.
That is just some of the reasons for having synthetic soccer fields. But not many of them are good reasons. A least not good enough reasons to keep on destroying our environment further.
How many of these granules disappear into the nature?
In Norway we have about 1500 synthetic soccer fields, and among these around 5% of the rubber granules disappear from these soccer fields every year. While 5% does not sound like a lot, it results in about 3-5 tons of rubber waste per synthetic soccer field each year. And most of this rubber waste disappears into our oceans and drinking water. Where it can end up affecting aquatic life and ecosystems.
This is what rubber granules look like.
How do these rubber granules affect our oceans and freshwater sources?
What exactly happens to the rubber granules that wash into our oceans is still a big mystery. But we know that it cannot possibly be good for the environment.
These rubber granules have been found to contain at least 60 different chemicals.
The rubber granules used in the synthetic soccer fields are made of old car tires and have been found to contain over 60 different harmful chemicals in them. And when these rubber granules enter our water, they tend to release toxic chemicals into the ocean, just like plastic does.
I found that the Norwegian authorities did some research on the case, and they conclude that these 60 different chemicals in the rubber granules are not harmful to the soccer players or the environment. But many others still argue that the chemicals may lead to cancer.
Even if these rubber granules cause cancer or not, they still have 60 different, possibly harmful chemicals that we are releasing into our oceans. Do we really want to risk our oceans and wildlife for a good soccer field?
They can affect our food sources.
The more granules released into the ocean, the more the risk of having fish and other aquatic animals consuming them. They might also make the water toxic due to all the chemicals.
These rubber granules can wash into the ocean through the melting snow.
How can we prevent soccer fields from polluting further?
We have found that some soccer fields decide to exchange their rubber granules with granules made of cork instead. These are a lot more environmentally friendly then the rubber ones. But not many soccer fields have started using them. So, we should further encourage the more environmentally friendly version and try to make a difference for the sake of our environment.
This is what cork granules look like. It is a more environmentally safe option for synthetic soccer fields.
Some countries have already taken this into consideration. More European countries are increasingly tightening the ban on artificial grass. For example, there are several places where rubber granules are not allowed like Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Most people believe that by 2020, synthetic grass will be banned in the EU.
