LigaTurf Cross GT zero at the Poligny sports complex in France
Carbon-neutral football pitch at the heart of the sport
Set against the backdrop of the Jura Mountains, the quaint town of Poligny is a renowned focal point of the Jura wine region in eastern France. It is also renowned as the birthplace of Comté cheese – historically a vital food source for rural communities during long, snowy winters, and even commemorated by the Maison du Comté museum.
Today, this community of just 4,000 residents is the sporting epicentre of the entire Jura region. This reputation has been earned thanks in no small part to the numerous local and regional sports clubs, plus a wide range of modern and well-equipped sports facilities, housed within the Poligny sports complex. Inaugurated in 2005, the complex features a natural grass playing field for football and rugby, an athletics track for all the usual events, and even a further synthetic turf for ‘the beautiful game’. The Salle omnisports du Champ d’Orain is primarily used for basketball, while handball takes place in the Salle du Cosec Claude Jeanneret. There are even several terrains, both covered and open-air, for hosting professional boule lyonnaise events.
At the start of the 2022/2023 season, we were called in to upgrade the synthetic turf for football, which was the first of its kind in the Jura region. The surface of choice was our LigaTurf Cross GT zero in a Lime green / Field green blend. The introduction of the first carbon-neutral football pitch for elite and grassroots sports marks a pivotal move forward for Poligny. Our LigaTurf Cross GT zero combines stringent environmental and sustainability requirements with climate protection standards, without compromising on the durability or functional properties of the surface.
The filaments in the LigaTurf Cross GT zero are made from up to 70 per cent organic fibre raw material (PE), accompanied by a granulate filling reduced by around 50 per cent for climate protection, alongside improved retention of the infill granules. This turf system puts clubs in a strong and convincing position in the ongoing discussions regarding the use of rubber granules.
As the primary users of the new synthetic turf, the members of Poligny Grimont Football Club (PGFC) – whose name pays homage to the former Château de Grimont once located above the town – couldn’t be happier with the results. The football club is part of the Entente Jura Centre Athlétisme (EJCA) association, which aims to inspire young people from across Jura to participate in sports. Together with the town of Poligny, EJCA organises an annual national meeting at the sports complex, supported by renowned athletes and serving to showcase the deep-seated sporting spirit at the heart of Jura.
