Experts Refute Fraunhofer Study on Microplastics on Artificial Turf Fields

Artificial turf fields enable year-round play for many football players in Germany. They are durable, require no water or fertilizer, are permeable to water, do not seal surfaces, and do not release pollutants like nitrates into the ground. They are not closed during summer due to drought, and they remain almost consistently playable during winter months. However, they are under discussion because the EU is considering a ban on rubber infill used on the pitches to ensure optimal playing conditions.

The Issue is a Potential Ban on Infill, Not Artificial Turf

The focus of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is not on artificial turf itself, but on the small rubber particles used as infill on the fields, which fall under the category of microplastics due to their size. About 3,500 of the approximately 5,000 fields in Germany use this material. Modern infill consists of up to 70% natural substances such as hemp and chalk, and only 30% rubber. Thus, the plastic content is significantly lower than, for example, a pacifier. It meets toy safety standards and poses no health risk. ECHA is currently consulting various industries and stakeholders dealing with microplastics, such as the cosmetics industry, whose plastics directly enter the sewage system. This is not the case with rubber infill on sports fields.

If the EU were to ban rubber infill, artificial turf fields could be filled with sand and cork. This is already being done but has disadvantages in terms of durability, comfort, and maintenance. Better alternatives are already under development.

DIN Committee "Plastic Surfaces and Artificial Turf Surfaces" and RAL Estimate One-Tenth of the Fraunhofer Figure

The key trigger for the discussion about artificial turf fields was a Fraunhofer study. For a long time, the institute maintained that about 11,000 tons of rubber infill were annually removed from artificial turf fields and released into the environment. Since the beginning of the year, Fraunhofer has had new figures that reflect the reality. Increasingly, experts are also concluding that the institute's figures do not reflect actual conditions. For instance, the committee "Plastic Surfaces and Artificial Turf Surfaces" of the Standards Committee Construction at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) (https://www.din.de/de/din-und-seine-partner/presse/mitteilungen/-kunststoffflaechen-und-kunststoffrasenflaechen--340382) and the RAL Quality Assurance Association (https://www.ral-ggk.eu/news/49-news/220-microplastik-in-kunstrasen.html) estimate that the discharge is about ten percent of the value initially reported by Fraunhofer.

Now the institute is backtracking. It admits to having assumed a worst-case scenario and says it wanted to raise awareness about the issue. By the end of August, the institute plans to release revised figures. "The goal is to move away from worst-case scenarios towards realistic scenarios. A new Fraunhofer study with updated figures is expected to be less alarming," the institute stated in a comment to the Tagesspiegel. However, why is Fraunhofer only now willing to engage with the new data, despite having had it since March?

Study as Trigger for Uncertainty

Many media reports have cited Fraunhofer's figures, causing uncertainty among authorities, clubs, municipalities, and field owners. It is encouraging that Fraunhofer's scientists are now addressing the more accurate data. Certainly, expert and neutral assessments, such as those from the DIN committee, which has been addressing this topic since the 1990s, have contributed significantly.

A few more facts: On average, about 200 to 350 kilograms of rubber infill are replenished annually on a rubber-filled field in Germany. There are about 3,500 such fields in the country. This amounts to about 1,000 tons of replenished infill for all fields in Germany, as replenishment only occurs as needed. Based on Fraunhofer's figures, about three tons would have to be replenished on each field, which is far from reality. Furthermore, only a very small portion of the discharged infill ends up in the environment. Most stays on the field premises, is swept up and disposed of or reused. Modern containment systems like special channels or low-level barriers can almost entirely capture and filter it.

EU Decision Still Open

The potential EU ban on rubber infill for artificial turf fields has not been decided yet. After ECHA's consultations, the proposal will proceed to EU bodies. It is already apparent that there will be at least a transitional solution, allowing existing fields to retain legal protection over a multi-year period. Rubber infill on artificial turf fields is only one part of a broader initiative for which ECHA will make a recommendation in the fourth quarter.