Here in the cold north, many of our football pitches are made of artificial grass. In fact, we are the European champions in artificial grass with around 2,000 artificial grass pitches. Last week it became clear that the European Commission would ban the use of rubber granules on these pitches. You know, the black little pieces of rubber that lie on the lawn. The EU is moving towards a ban because these small pieces of rubber are spread as microplastics in nature. Project manager for Artificial Turf 2021, Bjørn Aas, believes we will live well without artificial grass with rubber granules. Photo: Trond Odin Myhre Johansen / news Bjørn Aas, who is project manager for the NTNU project Artificial Grass 2021, believes that we should live well with such a ban. He says that we have good alternatives that several countries in Europe have good experience with. Because what are the alternatives? What is the best ingredient for Norwegian lanes? – We have good experience with olive stone. We also have good experience with a mixture of cork and coconut that is widely used in Norway, which can also be used on elite courts. On the artificial grass pitches at Flatåsen IL, they have gone for a solution where rubber granules are dropped in favor of olive stone. Photo: Terje Trobe / NTNU Troubled start phase One of the tracks where attempts have been made to replace the rubber granules is in the Flåtashallen in Trondheim. – We have been through a process where we missed a bit in the initial phase. This is what John Tore Dreier, who is operations manager in Flatåsen IL, tells us. When they were going to build an environmentally friendly track, they went a few rounds on what type of track they should go for. John Tore Dreier says that they have gained experience which shows that this type of track will work well in cross country sports. He is operations manager in Flatåsen IL. Photo: Trond Odin Myhre Johansen / news They received feedback that the pitch was smooth, hard and difficult to play on. The supplier came to visit and found that the track had been built incorrectly. But now the club has built a track with cushioning mats, sand infill topped with olive stone to ensure better friction. Yes, exactly the kind of olive stone that you find in your Kalamata olives. And it is a solution like this at Flatåsen that could be the future for approximately 2,000 artificial grass pitches here in Norway. Concerned about the cost However, several people are concerned that the cost of the environmentally friendly courses may be too high. – We are happy that Norway wants to take the lead, we want to contribute. But it has to happen in a way that takes the risk away from the clubs and we are not there today. Football president Live Klaveness told Dagsnytt 18 before the weekend. Bjørn Aas says that it can be cheaper with environmentally friendly grass mats. Aas says it will be a more expensive lump sum for the course, but that the course will last much longer. – After all, it is the case that you get an increased gaming subsidy from the Ministry of Culture if you choose environmentally friendly solutions. Need to move on – You hear from those who accept applications for playing equipment subsidies that almost no one applies for funds for pitches with rubber granules, because they understand that you have to move on. – You don’t buy Chevrolet Corvette 68 on super petrol anymore, you simply don’t, says Aas. Lars Bohinen is a former national team player and is now head coach for Stabæk Fotball. Photo: Mats Torbergsen / NTB Former national team player Lars Bohinen also believes there must be a solution. – After all, football is one of the world’s biggest industries. If we can’t find a solution it will surprise me very much. John Tore Dreier in Flatåsen IL is clear that this type of pitch is something they would recommend to other clubs in the country. – My experience now is that this type of track that we have now works well in cross-country sports. Dreier also mentions that in relation to the lifespan of the track, there is talk of large savings. In addition, he says that the pitch requires less maintenance than a regular artificial grass pitch with rubber granules. This type of pitch that is used at Flatåsen is the same as the Bundesliga uses as training pitches. Photo: Trond Odin Myhre Johansen / news
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Olive stone, bark and coconut can replace rubber granules in the artificial grass pitches of the future – news Trøndelag
