Tokyo 2020 set an ambitious target to become the world’s first carbon-neutral games. To help realise this vision, we pushed the boundaries on sustainability to produce Poligras Tokyo GT, the world’s first climate positive turf. Poligras Tokyo GT is proof that the field of play can have a positive impact, not just on the game, but also the planet.
To celebrate Poligras’ 7th Olympics, here are 7 reasons why this will be the sweetest yet:
- MADE FROM SUSTAINABLY SOURCED SUGAR CANE
Made from 60% sugar cane, Poligras Tokyo GT, is the world’s greenest turf. In the process of harvesting their sugar, farmers produce by-products which are harnesssed to make I’m Green™ polyethylene. This green polyethylene, rather than fossil-based polyethylene, is then used to make the hockey turf. The end result is doubly sustainable; the Brazilian farmers earn a living producing Fairtrade sugar and we use the leftovers to make climate positive turfs.
- USES A THIRD LESS WATER
The pitch has been designed to keep the surface temperature 10-20% lower than other pitches with tighter tufting to help store water better. This means that Poligras Tokyo GT turfs require a third less water than previous Olympic hockey surfaces. Not only does this offer more comfort to players, it also treads more lightly on the environment.
- 28 TONNES OF CO₂ SAVED PER TURF
Bio-based materials reduce the amount of carbon used in the manufacturing process. By using 60% bio-based materials we save 28 tonnes of CO₂ per turf when compared to manufacturing a traditional hockey turf. This means the 4 Poligras Tokyo GT turfs at the Olympics saved 112 tonnes of CO₂, this is the same amount of CO₂ that is stored in a typical 8.5 hectare German forest (where the turfs were manufactured). To give this a hockey context, 8.5 hectares is the same size as 14 hockey fields.
- 11 TREES PLANTED FOR EVERY TOKYO GT TURF INSTALLED
Simply put, you play, we plant. As part of an initiative with our partner Treedom, we have created the Polytan Forest in Kenya. For every Poligras Tokyo GT turf laid, we plant the equivalent of a hockey team in trees. Over the course of their lives all planted trees remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and benefit the whole planet. The Polytan Forest also promotes biodiversity and reforestation, enables small farmers to create and maintain their livelihoods and grows fruit as a source of food and income for local communities.
- PRODUCED IN GREEN FACTORIES
Green technology not only powers our products but also the way they are made. We manufacture Poligras Tokyo GT in Germany and Australia in ISO certified factories. These factories adopt many environmentally friendly manufacturing practices, including using green electricity and recycling rainwater. By adopting green technology across everything we do, we minimise the negative effects on the environment.
- SHOCK-PADS THAT REMOVE CO₂ FROM THE ATMOSPHERE
Our turfs in Tokyo are laid on a specially designed shock-pad called PolyBase GT. This is made from fully recycled materials and a binder manufactured using a ground-breaking technique, whereby CO₂ gas from factory manufacturing processes is used to create the binder. This means it removes harmful CO₂ from the atmosphere and significantly reduces our carbon footprint.
- GLOBALLY 54 TOKYO GT TURFS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED
Congratulations to the global hockey community on choosing climate positive hockey. To date, 54 hockey venues in 14 countries have installed Poligras Tokyo GT turfs. This saves 1,512 tonnes of CO₂ entering the atmosphhere, which is amount of CO₂ stored in a forest the size of 196 hockey turfs….so, this is worth saving.
