Is Artificial Turf Bad for the Environment? Key Facts You Should Know

January 22, 2025

Discover the environmental impact of artificial turf. Explore key facts and insights to make informed choices. Read the article for essential information.

Is Artificial Turf Bad for the Environment?

There is a lot of useful content online, but there is also lots of misinformation, especially when it is a hotly debated topic with lots of loud proponents on both sides. With artificial turf becoming more popular in recent years and raising concerns about climate change, there is naturally a certain dose of skepticism about its use.

On the one hand, people are worried that synthetic materials degrade very slowly and can end up in landfills for a long time. On the other hand, some rightly point out that it is a good alternative to real grass because it conserves water and doesn’t require the use of fertilizer or pesticides.

We’ll take a deep dive into the arguments of both camps to see if there is a net positive or negative, but first, we need an overview of the synthetic materials used.

What is Artificial Turf, and How Is It Made?

Colloquially known as “fake grass”, this synthetic product is nothing more than a collection of plastic grass blades tufted into a breathable base layer that lets moisture through and topped with an infill material, anything from sand to crumb rubber, and even organic materials like cork and coconut fibers.

Artificial lawns come in different varieties, some being light and mostly ornamental for areas with minimal foot traffic, while others can be thick and heavy, able to withstand multiple seasons of outdoor sporting events.

Artificial Turf vs. Natural Grass

Real grass has relatively shallow roots and grows fairly quickly, which is why it requires a lot of water to sustain that growth and stay lush and green. It is also susceptible to damage from harsh weather, especially in extremely hot or cold climates, and can easily be torn out or damaged.

Unlike living lawns, its synthetic counterparts will always remain at the same length and look the same, unaffected by the elements, resistant to wear and tear, mud-free, and requiring zero water.

Environmental Concerns About Artificial Turf

The main concerns about synthetic turf being bad for the environment can be summed up in three points:

Affects soil health: Unlike a natural lawn, feeding soil organisms like burrowing insects and worms in the soil beneath is not really possible with artificial alternatives, so it can hinder biodiversity in an area and ultimately reduce soil quality.
Promotes microplastic pollution: The plastic grass blades and infill materials like crumb rubber will break down due to wear and tear but will take hundreds of years to decompose fully. Having them seep into the environment can have negative effects on the local flora and fauna.
Can have chemicals toxic to humans and animals: Some older variations of plastic lawns would use toxic chemicals, volatile organic compounds, and PFAS or forever chemicals that stick around in our bodies and may lead to adverse health outcomes, all of which can taint the soil.

These are legitimate concerns, but there is also the broader impact synthetic turf may have on the climate and local habitats:

Reduction of natural carbon storage: areas with lush green vegetation like grasslands and woodlands have a significant carbon dioxide uptake and serve as a form of natural carbon store, or “sinks” for this greenhouse gas. When these get smaller, more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, speeding up climate change.
Loss of natural habitats for native plants and insects: there can be a significant blow to the biodiversity of the local plant and insect life, which in turn means fewer birds and rodents that would feed on these, and so on.
No oxygen-replenishing benefits: through the process of photosynthesis, green plants like grass and trees release small amounts of oxygen into the air around them, but it adds up to a substantial amount when looking at larger areas. There are no such processes with artificial grass.

We’ve covered the biggest issues and arguments against artificial grass, so it’s only fair to explore some of the potential benefits it can offer, both to the individual and the ecosystem.

Potential Benefits of Artificial Turf

While a lot of the above points seem pretty damning, synthetic turf also has some remarkable upsides, including:

Water conservation: since it requires zero lawn maintenance, it’s an excellent choice for those in hotter climates that experience frequent draughts and where every ounce of water saved counts.
Reduced chemical usage in the long run: there is no need to use fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides, which can contain harmful chemicals that negatively impact the environment. With artificial turf, you eliminate the need for these substances, creating a safer, more sustainable outdoor space.
Exceptional ruggedness and longevity: Long-lasting surfaces that reduce the need for constant replacements in athletic fields or high-traffic areas.
Low maintenance requirements: not having to cut the grass every week also means less electrical energy or gasoline wasted on lawnmowers or portable grass cutters and a lower carbon footprint.

With all these positives in mind, let’s look at some of the scenarios where artificial grass outshines the real deal and offers a net positive for your pocket, free time, and the environment.

Use Cases: When Artificial Turf Makes Sense

Just to give you a general idea of when synthetic grass makes the most sense, here is a quick overview of most scenarios where people reach out to ProGreen:

Areas with water stress where maintaining real lawns and having them look presentable is nearly impossible.
Family homes with two working parents or new parents who simply don’t have the time and energy to take care of their yard.
Areas with high amounts of foot traffic like playgrounds, athletic fields, or commercial spaces where natural grass would be torn to shreds.
Backyards for pet owners or pet boarding facilities where pet waste and just general playfulness can damage real grass.

There are lots of other examples, but these are the ones we usually see. In all these examples, there is one more important factor we haven’t mentioned – there are ways to limit some of the potentially harmful effects mentioned in one of the previous sections.

Mitigating the Environmental Impact of Artificial Turf

The new generation of turf products are made with environmentally friendly methods and feature modern recyclable materials to reduce the negative ecological impact. Here are just a few ways the latest products offered by ProGreen accomplish this goal:

Using recycled, non-toxic synthetic materials: all the products ProGreen uses are PFAFs-compliant and contain as much recycled material as possible.
Developing sustainable production processes: our focus has always been on minimizing waste and ensuring that production is as efficient as possible to limit our carbon footprint. Having control over the whole process, from creating the materials in US-based factories to the final installation, we can drastically reduce the adverse ecological effects.
Proper disposal and recycling of old turf to reduce landfill waste: after about 15 to 20 years, when it’s time to change out old synthetic turf, we recycle as much of it as possible to give it a new life and dispose of the remaining materials in an ethical way.
Combining synthetic with natural materials: a lot of the products in the ProGreen catalog feature our proprietary infill technologies, with natural materials like cork and coconut fibers or silica sand.

As you can see, there are a lot of things an ethical and eco-conscious company like ProGreen can do to address most of the environmental concerns surrounding artificial lawns while offering all of the unique benefits outlined in previous paragraphs.

Conclusion

It’s easy to see why people are still worried about microplastic pollution, soil health, and reduction of natural habitats when talking about artificial turf, but as you’ve seen, there are also plenty of benefits, especially in the right scenarios.

Low maintenance requirements lead to a lower carbon footprint, there is no need for toxic herbicides and pesticides, and it’s a lot less hassle for the homeowner. Water conservation is also pretty astounding when compared to watering natural grass daily, which is good for the environment and your wallet.

Ultimately, you have to weigh all the pros and cons carefully for each project to balance out your practical and aesthetic needs, budget, and environmental impact. Luckily, there are many options to choose from at ProGreen, many with a unique blend of synthetic and natural materials.

Contact ProGreen today to restore your lawn to perfection after the storm.

Amanda Shope

Amanda Shope is the Digital Marketing Manager for ProGreen, specializing in digital strategy and content creation. With several years in the field, Amanda excels at crafting compelling content that drives engagement and fosters growth. When she’s not strategizing the next big campaign, she’s exploring the latest digital marketing trend.