Photo Resource The old artificial turf on the soccer pitch next to De Bongerd has been in use for fifteen years. That is five years past its expiry date. A new turf has been laid this week.
The grass looks greener than ever. That green appearance is also due to the infill that has been used. No rubber granules, but cork granules. This is a step towards the future.
Sustainable
‘From 2030, no more fields with rubber granules will be allowed’, says groundskeeper Aart Loseman. ‘From a sustainability point of view, an alternative material has been chosen beforehand.’ A total of 90 cubic metres of fine rubber granules were spread over the new turf today. The granules are made from the bark of the cork oak.
Less heat
The ‘blades of grass’ on the new mat are five centimetres long. That may seem a bit long, but according to Loseman, it isn’t. ‘You have to subtract the layer of cork (2 mm) and the layer of sand underneath (22 mm).’ For cushioning purposes, the mat itself lies on an (invisible) foam mat one centimetre thick. Cork is not only more sustainable than rubber, but also absorbs less heat.
Translated with DeepL
