BioPitch

Important results from the project

The overall societal problem that the BioPitch project has aimed to solve has been to develop an environmentally sustainable performance material for artificial turf pitches. The project´s approach has been to create a material that can replace the plastic and rubber granules that are currently used. The goal has been to develop a product with a low CO2 footprint and a low fossil content. By using raw materials from forest waste, the project has developed a product that can replace today´s fossil performance materials. The product is FIFA approved.

Expected long term effects

The project BioPitch has developed a bio-based composite from forest waste to be used as performance material in artificial turf systems. The project believes the product has a good market potential. The commercial success, and with that the expected environmental effects for society, will be determined by next year’s decision taken by the EU Parliament, regarding performance materials for artificial turf pitches and what polymeric materials that will be allowed. If EU decides to put a ban on sales of all synthetically produced polymer materials, also BioPitch will be affected.

Approach and implementation

The project has been structured in work packages where the participating partners have had different areas of responsibility. Regular meetings have moved the work process forward according to plan. The project was delayed one year because of the Corona pandemic and Brexit which made it difficult to hold meetings, gather knowledge and test the product. Scaling up production was also heavily affected by the pandemic. In order to communicate the product´s level of development at different times, looking at technology, market and sustainability, Vinnova´s maturity model has been used.