The Art of
Recycling Turf

The Art of
Recycling Turf

Sustainability is an integral part of corporate culture at Sport Group and its subsidiaries Polytan, SYNLawn, and FormaTurf. We firmly believe that the key to the solutions of tomorrow is collaboration and have made it our mission to shape these solutions along the entire artificial turf line. From research, development and production to installation, maintenance and dismantling, we work to continuously improve our products in terms of sustainability. With the establishment of our recycling company FormaTurf, we have successfully closed the material cycle completely.

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FormaTurf Recycling Element Panorama

Artificial Turf as a Resource

Recycling artificial turf fields and sports surfaces presents us with significant challenges, which we are committed to overcoming. When a synthetic surface has reached the end of its life cycle, we return it to the material cycle. For several years, FormaTurf’s development team has been working on a portfolio for the construction and landscaping industries, with additional products already in the pipeline. By recycling materials, we want to ensure a liveable environment for future generations. This is why FormaTurf operates responsibly and sustainably in the interest of our planet. Our stated goal is a zero-waste artificial turf and sports surface industry, one that is fully in line with the principles of a circular economy.

  • The mechanical process has a favorable eco-economic balance compared to standard alternatives
  • Natural resources are preserved through the recycling process
  • Artificial turf fields and sports surfaces are turned into new products for a wide range of applications

From Research to Recycling

From Research to Recycling

Polytan, through our newly founded sister company FormaTurf, is now offering complete recycling of old artificial turf surfaces. This closes the entire value chain—from research and development to production, installation, maintenance, removal, and sustainable recycling. This comprehensive concept is unique in Germany. As the German market leader for artificial turf systems, Polytan and FormaTurf share the goal of establishing sustainable recycling concepts across Europe.

Thanks to innovative technologies and an entirely new machinery setup, artificial turf, including infill, can be reintegrated into the material cycle. The turf and rubber granules are processed into new plastic products, which can be reused in the construction of new sports fields and other applications. The heaviest component of and artificial turf system is the sand, which makes up over 70 percent of the weight. Even the sand, once cleaned, can be reused again as infill for other artificial surfaces.

Material flow diagram FormaTurf
Recycling

Polytan Closes the Lifecycle

At Polytan, we not only guarantee the delivery of a sustainable product but, upon request, also that your artificial turf will be 100 percent recycled. For Polytan and FormaTurf, an artificial turf system at the end of its life cycle is not waste but rather a valuable resource. Old artificial turf can be given new life. Polytan has offered the recycling of old artificial turf pitches since 2023. And it doesn’t matter whether the field was originally made by Polytan or another manufacturer under the Sport Group umbrella.

About FormaTurf

At FormaTurf, all components of an artificial turf system are recycled. We separate the materials and process them using a state-of-the-art recycling procedure. Recycled materials are given a second life in the form of new plastic products as well as custom solutions for sports field construction and various applications in the landscaping, construction, and industrial sectors.

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FormaTurf Fabrik

Transparent

All steps in the FormaTurf recycling process are fully transparent and traceable for our customers - from removal to delivery to the recycling plant. This is made possible by a tracking system that is integrated into each of our rolls of turf. This gives you a 100% guarantee that every roll ends up at its intended destination.

Holistic

For us, holistic means waste-free. Every artificial turf system we deliver passes through various recycling stages and is further processed in this way. With our recycling solution, we guarantee that the recyclable materials are not lost in the cycle or remain unused, but are reused as new materials in sports facility construction or other industries.

Sustainable

Sustainable production to us means working in a way that conserves resources. Our processes are carefully thought out with regard to energy and resource conservation. After use, each artificial turf system is returned to the material cycle to become a new, long-lasting product in a variety of applications.

Perfectly Positioned

Our 20,000 m² of premises are located in an excellent infrastructural location to ensure sufficient storage space for up to 100 large pitches at the same time. The entire facility is powered by green electricity, while the latest standards are met by a material recycling concept that features a wet separation process and the latest in high-tech machinery.

Transparency Is Important to Us

We not only track the origin of our raw materials, we share the information with you. You can follow the journey of your old artificial turf and see what new products are created from it at FormaTurf. Full-service from development to disposal—as sustainable and transparent as possible. That’s what distinguishes Polytan, FormaTurf, and the entire Sport Group in our industry and makes us your ideal partner for the sports surfaces of tomorrow.

Green technology Logo
Kunstrasen Recycling Prozess

By the Way

What many owners of artificial surfaces don’t know is that they are responsible for legally compliant disposal of their fields. The Circular Economy Act (KrWG) stipulates that disposal must be carried out in the most sustainable manner possible. Material reuse and recycling are ranked higher than previous methods of thermal recycling in the waste hierarchy. If better alternatives to conventional disposal exist, field owners are obligated to use them.

Recycling Plastic Becomes More Important

Recycling Plastic Becomes More Important

Recycling will play an increasingly important role in most industries in the future. In other industry sectors, policymakers have already significantly tightened regulations on the disposal of old materials. As a market leader in polymer-based sports surfaces, the Sport Group embraces its responsibility and takes on a pioneering role in its sector. FormaTurf’s innovative recycling concept is another step in the company’s Green Technology strategy, which has been under development for several years.

Waste hierarchy FormaTurf

FormaTurf Product Portfolio

FormaTurf offers a wide range of recycled products made from old artificial turf systems and sports surfaces. These products are not only sustainable but also highly versatile. Below is an overview of some of the main products in our portfolio.

Products

Container-Panel

400 X 400 X 20 MM 400 X 400 X 30 MM 400 X 400 X 50 MM

    Flexblock

    974 X 220 X 98 MM

      FormaTurf Board

      1830 X 88 X 18 MM 1830 X 88 X 25 MM 1830 X 88 X 38 MM

        FormaTurf Trionstein

        500 X 250 X 80 MM

          FormaTurf Board Varianten

          1830 X 88 X 18-1 MM 1830 X 88 X 35 -18 MM

            We Have Answers to Your Questions

            Are you looking for a reliable partner and advisor to assist you in the development and recycling of your artificial surface? We’ve got you covered! Interested in durable, sustainable, and resource-saving products? We have ideas and solutions! We’re here to help with any questions or concerns you may have.

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