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For almost a century, plastics have been made from oil. But oil, like other non-renewable resources, is finite. This is why the industry has long been searching for alternatives. In addition to recycling plastics, using renewable raw materials for plastic production is one promising approach. Since the mid-2010s, Polytan has been using these natural materials in its artificial turf production, thus making a significant contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions and resource conservation.
To our biobased products
Polytan’s I’m green™ polyethylene is made from sugarcane. It can be applied anywhere polyethylene made from petrochemical raw materials can, and also matches its performance. In the search for sustainable solutions, I’m green™ polyethylene has proven itself to be a material with a negative CO2 footprint that contributes to a low-emission economy. Polytan works closely with the Brazilian chemical company Braskem, the world’s largest producer of bioplastics, which manufactures this eco-friendly polyethylene. The production of the first carbon-neutral artificial sports turf, the LigaTurf Cross GT zero and Poligras Paris GT zero, was only possible thanks to I’m green™ polyethylene. The use of biobased polyethylene is expected to expand in the future, with I’m green™ material even being used in the hockey turf at the last two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris.
Polytan has carefully studied the growing conditions of sugarcane. Due to climate conditions, the majority of Brazilian sugarcane is grown in the northern part of the country, 2,000 km away from the Amazon. Only 0.02% of the country’s arable land is used for the production of I’m green™. Martin Clemesha, Product Manager at Braskem, says: “The use of arable land to produce products other than food should represent only a small percentage of the available growing area – even if we subscribe to the optimistic view that the production of chemicals from renewable raw materials will increase.”
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But how does I’m green™ stack up against high-quality polyethylene plastics derived from oil in terms of qualitative properties? “The mechanical properties and processing characteristics of I’m green™ polyethylene are identical to those of products made from petrochemical resins,” says Martin Clemesha, Product Manager at Braskem. Not only that, he adds, but I’m green™ can be recycled just like conventional polyethylene, making it a perfect fit with Polytan’s strategy for a closed material cycle.
Biobased plastics have been in use for over 100 years. The most well-known example is cellophane, which was invented and patented in 1908. However, it wasn't until the 1990s that some companies started marketing bioplastics as a more sustainable alternative to petrochemical plastics. With the launch of I’m green™ polyethylene in 2010, Braskem became the world's largest producer of bioplastics.
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I’m green™ is a brand created by Braskem to identify products made from renewable raw materials within their portfolio. The company’s I’m green™ seal helps customers readily identify products containing “green” polyethylene and/or EVA. To carry the seal, the products must meet specific criteria defined by Braskem. Since 2007, the company has worked continuously to develop and improve the production technology for green ethylene and I’m green™ plastics made from bioethanol.
According to the “European Bioplastics” association, plastics made from renewable raw materials or biodegradable plastics are classified as bioplastics or biopolymers. This means that the sugarcane-derived plastic bearing the I’m green™ seal is a bioplastic, even though the product itself is not biodegradable.
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Friedemann Söll, Managing Director of Polytan, sees great potential in this area. “We will use renewable raw materials in more and more products and aim to further reduce the share of non-renewable resources in our products.” This applies not only to artificial turf but also to running tracks and fall-protection surfaces. Braskem’s Martin Clemesha also sees opportunities here: “The demand for bioplastics with proven – i.e. scientifically verified – low CO2 footprints and strong performance promises will certainly continue to grow.”
Our artificial turf systems featuring biobased raw materials can be identified by the “GT” suffix in the product name. We offer artificial turf from our Green Technology portfolio for various applications such as football, rugby, American football, and hockey. More information about our GT products can be found below.
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We are constantly improving our artificial turf and flooring systems. Sustainability and quality are our top priorities, with our development team working daily around the world to achieve this. Do you have questions regarding our Green Technology developments, the use of biobased raw materials, or the recycling of our artificial turf? Feel free to contact us!
Contact formWe are constantly improving our artificial turf and flooring systems. Sustainability and quality are our top priorities, with our development team working daily around the world to achieve this. Do you have questions regarding our Green Technology developments, the use of biobased raw materials, or the recycling of our artificial turf? Feel free to contact us!
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