United Nations Global Compact for Synthetic Turf Firm

United Nations Global Compact for Synthetic Turf Firm

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United Nations Global Compact
Communication on Progress
1 March 2008 through 7 April 2009

Dear Valuable Stakeholders:

The past twelve months have been very exciting for us. As a proud continuing member of the United Nations
Global Compact, we have spent considerable effort to adhere to its principles so we can to improve our market place and the societies in which we serve.

As a company with head offices in the United States, we abide by the applicable human rights, labor and
environmental laws. However, our sales extend into 50 countries where we appreciate the melting pot of our
diverse network of offices and local installation partners. This enhances our ability to respect and take responsibility for the needs of all the markets we serve. This also allows us to recognize the need to go beyond the laws in many countries. The Global Compact is of tremendous value in these efforts as we strive to be role models in our synthetic turf industry and communities around the world.

We appreciate the positive responses from our customers, partners and government agencies concerning our commitment to the Global Compact and its principles. This feedback and the positive impact we make continue to reinforce that the goals of good corporate stewardship and profits are not separate paths. In fact, good business principles and integrity is our foundation for long-term stability and profitability.

Finally, we invite and encourage all other participants in the synthetic turf industry to review the United Nations Global Compact’s principles. In turn, we hope they will also execute such practices to aid in our common wellbeing. From our side, we will continue to implement even newer strategies that will continue to guide us as strong proponents of the Global Compact.United Nations Global Compact

Best Regards,
/s/ John Baize
Managing Director

Promoting the United Nations Global Compact

As proud members of the United Nations Global Compact, we have promoted our participation in 50 countries throughout the world. We feature the United Nations Global Compact logo and information on our websites, brochures, banners and most of our external documentation. We promote our participation on a grassroots level through international presentations, meetings and seminars with both internal and external audiences. Our objective is not only to explain our own business activity but encourage the numerous participants in our industry to implement the principles in the Global Compact. Through education and communication, we are able to continue developing our own strategies and also influence the private and governmental groups we meet.

Communication on Progress Report Card

Communication on Progress Report Card

Human Rights
Principles 1 and 2
Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights and make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses

Actions and Achievements:
ACT Global Sports considers our worldwide employees to be our most valuable asset. Without them there would be no business. We offer support to each individual and promote human rights both locally and internationally. We continue to train our employees on the proper code of business and implement procedures that comply with international standards. ACT Global Sports promotes an open relationship with our employees to discuss issues in a welcoming and professional manner. This form of action creates a tight-knit community within our organization even though our offices are widespread. As a result, our employees feel more comfortable in their working environment and are more focused on striving to do a better job.

ACT Global Sports extends this open communication and awareness of human right to our suppliers andprofessional partners. We instruct our external suppliers and customers that we expect them to operate in the same manner in this regard.

Labor Standards
Principle 3
Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

Actions and Achievements:
We continue support to uphold the freedom of association and effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining. Such practices are outlined in our employment policies. There is no discrimination on grounds of membership in a labor organization.

ACT Global Sports we implement this philosophy by welcoming meetings where active input and discussion concerning key issues regarding pay, employee relations, working, conditions, and workspace are reviewed. Such requests are considered without discrimination or conjecture. We then work as a team to resolve any issues.

Principle 4
Businesses should uphold the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor

Actions and Achievements:
ACT Global Sports recognizes and agrees with the laws regarding forced and compulsory labor. The company will not tolerate nor accept the exploitation of labor. It is not only illegal, but cruel and immoral as well. We allow our employees to make any complaints or suggestions regarding their work surroundings and receive adequate pay for their efforts.

We value our employees and the work that they do, therefore their well being is one of our biggest concerns. This ensures constant workflow and effective team effort. We outline clearly each employee’s work expectations, expected hours, rate of pay and do not allow any violation of rights. We take pride in our external partners and strive to work with the best in the industry. If any association or partner is in violation of forced and compulsory labor, we will immediately terminate our relationship with them.

Principle 5
Businesses should uphold the effective abolition of child labor

Actions and Achievements:
ACT Global Sports does not support child labor in any shape or form. We continue to support World Vision in the aid of children worldwide. World Vision is a humanitarian organization that supports children with food, education, medicine, and well as moral support. We understand that child labor is a huge issue worldwide in both developing as well as industrialized countries. This is horrible practice. Children are our future and should be treasured and raised properly. We also understand that there are harsh economic and survival realities and businesses must also work together to address these underlying conditions. We strongly encourage others to review this issue and do whatever they can to stop child labor.

Principle 6
Businesses should eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

Actions and Achievements:
ACT Global Sports’ offices and partners are located worldwide. Our global network is exposed to a wide diversity of cultures and beliefs in society as well as the workplace. Such exposure allows us to become well-rounded in our understanding and appreciation of diversity. ACT Global Sports values our multicultural existence. Not only does this support our workforce but it helps us expand our business worldwide. We do not discriminate against race, colour, gender, religion, political opinion, national origin, social origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS status, trade union membership, or sexual orientation. Our employees and contractors are hired based on their skills and ability to do the job at hand.

In efforts to empower women we continue donations to CARE, a humanitarian organization that fights global poverty in part by providing economic opportunities. We place special focus on working alongside poor women. Equipped with the proper resources, these women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty.

Environment
Principle 7
Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges

Actions and Achievements:
ACT Global Sports is proud to being committed to environmentally friendly products and manufacturing. We also hold an ISO 14001 environmental certification and discussed environmental stewardship in a recent article published by ISO Focus. We have also conducted strict environmental testing to measure lead, mercury, zinc, cadmium, chromium, tin, toxicity, EOX, and DOC. Such testing ensures our products are safe and not hazardous to the environment. Our artificial turf and synthetic turf products are environmentally friendly as they reduce water consumption and eliminate the use of pesticides.

ACT Global Sports encourages our employees, professional partners, and competitors to implement the best practices in energy and resource efficiency, waste reduction, renewable resources, and the use of cleaner production. Together we can increase awareness and exercise greater environmental responsibility.

Principle 8
Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility

Actions taken & Achievements:
ACT Global Sports continuously seeks to improve our practices and promote greater environmental responsibility. As an ongoing initiative, we continue to support Conservation International and the U.S. Greenscapes program. Their mission is to conserve the Earth’s living heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature. We strive to stimulate the greater well being of the environment, society, and the economy.

We have implemented production recycling efforts and also a carbon offset program. We work to minimize our carbon footprint and then have invested in reforestation projects in the United States, Nicaragua and China. Our customers can also purchase carbon credits to offset the carbon footprint related to the production, transportation and installation activities of their purchase. This latest initiative is relatively new and we look forward to continuing its development.

Principle 9
Businesses should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies

Actions and Achievements:
Our synthetic turf industry helps to support the environment through the savings of water and the use of pesticides. We are also a large user of recycled rubber materials that would otherwise be sitting in landfills throughout the world.

We have identified additional opportunities to implement environmentally friendly technologies. These opportunities are part of our long-term product development and manufacturing plans.

Anti-Corruption
Principle 10
Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery

Actions and Achievements:
As outlined in our mission statement, “Our focus is to enhance our market value through integrity, product value and customer satisfaction.” Our solid relationships with employees, partners, and clients are built on honesty and integrity.

In order to avoid extortion and bribery, our company policy strictly limits the amount of gifts that can be given or received by an employee or professional partner. Any policy or ethical violation that is detected by an employee must be immediately reported to upper management without fear of reprisals. We do not tolerate corruption or bribery in any shape or form.

About ACT Global Sports
Act Global Sports is an international manufacturer of artificial turf and synthetic grass systems for football,
soccer, baseball, synthetic lawn landscaping or other sport field turf uses. Our Xtreme Turf or ACTurf synthetic turf and artificial grass systems can be found in 50 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.actglobalsports.com.

Act Global Sports Gets Greener

Act Global Sports Gets Greener

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ACT Global Sports, a leading manufacturer of artificial turf announced a comprehensive program to address global warming. Its offices have become carbon-neutral through ACT Global’s investment in reforestation projects around the world. The donations in certified reforestation projects in the U.S., Nicaragua and China will help offset the carbon footprint of ACT Global’s administrative offices. The Xtreme Turf and ACTurf systems of ACT Global have many uses in the areas of sports fields, landscaping, parks, playgrounds and lawns. We are pleased to be a small part of the solution by developing environmentally friendly technologies and investing in reforestation.

Act Global Sports, a leading manufacturer of artificial turf gets greener.

Act Global Sports, a leading manufacturer of artificial turf gets greener.


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Sports Turf Delivers Xtreme Performance

Sports Turf Delivers Xtreme Performance

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Sports Turf, Xtreme Turf

Sports Turf, Xtreme Turf

Today’s athletes require more from their artificial turf, they want Xtreme performance and we deliver! At Act Global Sports we ensure our line of sports turf goes beyond maintenance benefits and all-weather playability. Whether your looking to fill a putting green, golf, soccer, or football turf pitch, Xtreme Turf is a perfect fit. The artificial turf pitch includes safety features, shock absorbency, low abrasion, speed, stable footing and traction. Do you want Xtreme Performance? You got it!


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Sports Turf Delivers Xtreme Performance

Synthetic Turf Research

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Research Verifies Numerous Usage Benefits and Minimal Health & Environmental Risks
From the Synthetic Turf Council (USA) November 2007

These days, synthetic turf seems to be everywhere. It empowered the Barrow Whalers to become the first Arctic high school football team in northern Alaska, helped Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, New York win the New York State Field Hockey Championship in 2006 and was even endorsed by ABC sportscasters during their November 26, 2007 broadcast of the Pittsburgh Steelers-Miami Dolphins game, when a rain-soaked layer of newly installed sod turned Heinz Field into a veritable mud pit.

The escalating need for durable fields that accommodate multiple sports teams, coupled with increasing maintenance, water usage costs and climatic shifts, have prompted a rising number of schools and parks to turn to synthetic turf to balance their program needs. Today’s synthetic turf is designed to simulate the experience of practicing and playing on a grass-like surface year round. Demand has grown to the point where over 800 multi-use synthetic turf sports fields are installed annually in North American schools, colleges, parks and professional sports stadiums. About half of all NFL teams currently play their games on synthetic turf, and it has been recently been approved for World Cup soccer matches.

The Issue
As the popularity of synthetic turf escalates, so does scrutiny about its usage. Insightful and responsible questions are being asked regarding synthetic turf’s potential negative impact on the environment and health of its users. The STC acknowledges the concerns of parents, school boards, athletic directors, local officials and environmental and regulatory groups in this regard. As the industry’s trade organization, it is our responsibility to address these issues in an unbiased and judicious manner.

During the past decade, much independent, credible research about synthetic turf has been conducted worldwide, and is ongoing. Reputable governmental bodies and scientists in Norway, Sweden, Canada, Great Britain, New Jersey, California and Connecticut, international sports organizations such as FIFA (the international governing body on soccer), and trade institutes have examined the health and environmental aspects of synthetic turf.

Their exhaustive efforts have concluded that there is every reason to use synthetic turf while perceived or proposed environmental and health problems have a negligible impact. Further, to date, no state or federal agency has banned or restricted the use of artificial turf. In fact, environmental health officials in Connecticut recently pronounced that the chemical compounds associated with the infill material from recycled rubber tires used in this technology posed no danger to human health or the environment.

Environmental Advantages of Synthetic Turf
Crumb used tire rubber has been safely utilized in synthetic turf sports fields since it was introduced in 1997, and in playgrounds and tracks for much longer. The U.S. EPA’s position is that scrap tires are not a hazardous waste, and recommends using crumb material from granulated used tires for playgrounds, running tracks, and sports fields. This decree has afforded the opportunity to recycle 25 million used auto tires per year, tires that would otherwise end up in U.S. landfills.

A well-maintained natural turf field requires consistent irrigation and ongoing applications of both fertilizers and pesticides. It is not uncommon for grass fields to require 50,000 gallons or more of irrigation water per week during growing season and thousands of pounds of fertilizers and pesticides annually. Synthetic turf fields substantially decrease water usage, essentially eliminate chemical treatments and reduce the man hours and power equipment operation needed to maintain a grass field.

User Benefits of Synthetic Turf
Increasing demand for higher quality playing surfaces and intense competition for field accessibility have given rise to a new generation of synthetic turf systems that replicate the look and feel of manicured natural grass. Synthetic turf is supplanting its grass counterpart in record numbers because of the numerous benefits it affords, including: exponentially increased playing time, as synthetic turf can be used daily and in all types of weather, without worry of damage; improved playability, as synthetic turf fields remain uniform and consistent, season after season; increased safety, because the fields are infilled with resilient materials that provide a level of impact attenuation that is difficult to sustain on worn down, over-used natural turf fields; reduced maintenance costs; and environmental friendliness in terms of origin, application, use, disposal, sustainability and resource conservation.

In addition, while turf grass managers recommend against using a natural field for more than 20 – 24 hours per week or 680 to 816 hours per year for a three season window, synthetic turf can be utilized around 3,000 hours per year with no “rest” required.

STC Position
At STC, we believe that reliable scientific data should be the foundation of any discussion regarding synthetic turf’s safety and utility. After reviewing the available research from a diverse group of third party experts, our organization is confident that the benefits of synthetic turf to players, schools, communities and the environment are documented and substantially outweigh any potential, minimal risks.

Claims of toxicity are generally based on extreme laboratory testing such as the use of solvents and high temperatures to generate pollutants. Rarely replicating actual field conditions, this laboratory work does not represent realistic material characteristics. More often than not, even with laboratory testing, results in levels of pollutants are below existing background levels within the environment. Given these facts, the environmental concerns have been deemed insignificant by third-party experts. This position is consistent with recommendations of regulating agencies and organizations, such as the U.S. EPA and FIFA, that sports fields is an acceptable use for recycled SBR tire rubber.

Individuals need to weigh the facts themselves to determine if synthetic turf best meets their needs. A collection of unfiltered, credible studies conducted by experts worldwide have been posted on our Web site (www.syntheticturfcouncil.org) for review. In addition, we have launched a Public Outreach & Education Campaign to provide answers to commonly asked questions, as well as educational materials and position papers.

About the Synthetic Turf Council
Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to serve as an objective resource assisting buyers and end users with the selection, use, and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, and landscape applications. The organization actively collects reputable studies and research, as well as official statements by governmental agencies and sports organizations, which address the impact of synthetic turf sports fields. STC members produce and install most of the synthetic turf sports fields in North America. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, installation contractors and other specialty service companies.

Act Global Sports is a proud member of the Synthetic Turf Council.