Polytan at the Bundesgartenschau 2023 in Mannheim

A glimpse into a green future

The Bundesgartenschau in Mannheim is much more than just a flower show: it addresses forward-looking questions, explores the green spaces of tomorrow, the changing climate, and the preservation of resources. It also offers insights on current topics such as climate, energy, and the environment, showcasing how urban spaces and nature can be integrated. Innovating and being sustainable are also key goals for Polytan. We have a significant presence at the Bundesgartenschau. For example, the music playground is equipped with our fall protection surface PolyPlay FSI GT – here, children can play on various devices to create sounds and make music. This surface is a result of our environmentally friendly "Polytan Green Technology." It combines BASF Infinergy® with a specially developed binder using cardyon® technology. The result is excellent fall protection due to its high shock-absorbing elasticity and optimized material usage thanks to a lower bulk density. For the music playground, PolyPlay FSI GT was used as a "Grey Mixture" in the color combination of Light Grey, Pearl, and Eggshell, and was also applied to other play stations and parkour facilities. This ensures that young musicians are fully protected.

Users of various stations in the calisthenics area also benefit from the outstanding fall protection properties of this surface, installed as a "Beige Mixture" in the color combination of Beige, Eggshell, and Pearl. The same surface was used for the BASF Experience Space, though in brick red. This interactive exhibition by the chemical company provides insights into themes such as climate protection, recycling, renewable resources, and e-mobility. The aim is to illustrate how chemistry can contribute to climate neutrality and resource conservation. One of these innovations, BASF Infinergy®, is integrated into Polytan's fall protection surface PolyPlay, which was specifically chosen for this exhibition space.

At the "House of Landscape," the pathways between exhibitors, as well as some exhibition and office areas, have been designed using our Polytan Poligras artificial turf in Fieldgreen. As a hockey turf, this surface is not only extremely durable but is also featured in the Poligras Paris GT zero version, the world's first climate-neutral hockey artificial turf to be used at the 2024 Olympic Games. The PolyPlay Arena features an equally innovative surface: LigaTurf Cross GT zero, the first CO2-neutral football turf for both professional and community sports.

Peter Eberhardt, Sales Manager for the Southern Region, sums up: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase a range of our advanced products in application at the Bundesgartenschau. They combine cutting-edge technological expertise from the plastics industry with functional and ecological advantages. Our sustainable and durable products benefit from the resource-conserving and climate-friendly technologies we have recently developed. In Mannheim, we can present our own motto to a broad audience: ‘We make Sport. Greener.’”