New Artificial Turf Without Microplastics Is Changing Sports Fields

Artificial turf, most commonly used on sports fields, children’s playgrounds, in parks, and for landscaping yards, is generally made from fossil-fuel-based plastics and often contains rubber or plastic infill. For this reason, the development of the first biopolymer artificial turf without microplastics represents a significant step toward more sustainable sports surfaces.

The Biopolymer Innovation Award 2026 was presented in June at the BIOPOLYMER congress in Germany, where the most innovative projects in the field of bio-based and biodegradable plastics were selected. The main award went to the company Tecnaro GmbH for the development of the “NaKura” system, the first microplastic-free artificial turf based on biopolymers.

“NaKura” is a unique sports field made from the biopolymer Arboblend, from which both the artificial turf fibers and the bio-infill are produced. The bio-infill completely replaces conventional plastic granulate, which is considered one of the main sources of microplastic emissions.

The only such field is located at the municipal stadium in Ellwangen and combines a high level of sustainability with top-tier sports performance, meeting the FIFA QUALITY PRO standard for professional football.

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The project was developed in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR), and numerous partners from industry and science, with the goal of combining high sports performance with sustainability. The system is designed to maintain the durability and functionality of professional fields while significantly reducing negative environmental impact.

The biggest problem with today’s artificial turf is not a proven direct impact on health, but rather its contribution to microplastic pollution and surface heating during the summer months. The latest innovations, such as the award-winning system, are focused precisely on addressing these issues.

The potential significance of this innovation is best illustrated by data from the European Chemicals Agency, according to which Germany alone has approximately 9,000 artificial turf fields containing around 16,000 tons of microplastics.

Jasna Dragojević