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![Benefits of Synthetic Turf vs. Natural Grass]()
by Shelby Becker
Today’s synthetic turf is designed to simulate the experience of practicing and playing on the best natural grass.
Natural grass simply cannot remain lush and resilient if used more than three to four days a week, in snow or drought, or during months when grass doesn’t grow. This, coupled with an escalating need for durable fields that accommodate multiple teams and activities, the high cost of maintaining a grass sports field or landscape, and the need to conserve water, have prompted a rising number of schools, parks and municipalities to turn to synthetic turf to meet their needs.
ENVIRONMENT: Synthetic turf has a measurable, positive impact on the environment.
WATER SAVINGS
– A typical natural grass sports field requires between 500,000 and 1 million gallons water per year.
– Every square meter of natural grass replaced with synthetic saves 2,200 gallons per year.
– Synthetic turf conserves 4 to 8 billion gallons water annually.
REDUCED PESTICIDE USE
– Synthetic turf eliminates the need for harmful pesticides and fertilizers, a principal cause of water pollution,
which can lead to Algal Bloom, depleted oxygen and damage to wildlife.
LESS POLLUTION
– Helps reduce noxious emissions from maintenance equipment and mowers.
– A push mower emits as much pollution in one hour as 11 cars. A riding mower emits as much as 34 cars.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Synthetic turf has been proven to be a highly cost-effective investment.
– A synthetic turf field pays for itself over 3-4 years.
– The cost of installing and maintaining a synthetic turf field over a 20-year period (including one replacement field) is over 3x less expensive per event than the cost of a grass field.
VERSATILE: Maximize land use with the same surface space.
Synthetic turf promotes greater utilization of land than natural grass, as you can achieve more with the same surface space. This is especially useful for highly urbanized environments with limited access to recreational areas, maximizing event spaces, or areas in drought.
ALL WEATHER USE: Ideal for inclement weather climates.
Preparing and maintaining natural turf can be particularly challenging in cold or very hot climates. Natural turf is generally in poor condition after long winter months, requiring extensive maintenance and re-leveling. Hot climates experiencing drought face significant water shortages. Synthetic turf playing fields fields remain uniform and consistent, season after season, and can be used within hours of installation–without worry of damage.
RESILIENT: Far more durable than natural grass.
– Natural grass should not be used more than 20 – 24 hours per week or 680 – 816 hours per year.
– Synthetic turf can be utilized around 3,000 hours per year with no “rest” required.
SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE: Player well-being is at the forefront of product development.
Hundreds of studies have shown that the risk of injury is no different on high quality synthetic turf than natural grass. FIFA Quality Turf, in particular, has been extensively benchmarked and tested against natural grass for player safety and performance measures.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
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![Benefits of Synthetic Turf vs. Natural Grass]()
by Shelby Becker
Act Global worked in collaboration with an organic chemist PhD and three testing laboratories in New York, France and Texas to prepare the latest research study on crumb rubber safety. Results support the safety of crumb rubber and show no chemicals or substances to be present at levels of concern.
Austin, Texas – The latest objective, comprehensive crumb rubber research study supports the existing body of data that the infill material is safe as used in synthetic turf fields.
Act Global today released the independent testing and published analysis, performed in cooperation with a regarded organic chemist Dr. R. William Tilford and three accredited testing institutes. Dr. Tilford is an unbiased third-party expert, with a doctorate in organic chemistry and fourteen years of experience as a research chemist. Dr. Tilford has a thorough understanding of how organic molecules react with each other and their environments.
In a recent episode of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, the show raised concerns regarding the health risks of crumb rubber infill. The episode used the word “fear” in its show, while also issuing the following comments:
“…The International Agency for Research on Cancer labels four carcinogens [arsenic, benzene, cadmium, nickel] while adding that at low levels of exposure, they are considered safe.”
“…There’s no research directly linking crumb rubber exposure to cancer.”
“…Many researchers, states and localities defend the turf safety.”
Dr. Tilford’s research paper analyzed not only the four carcinogens noted by NBC, but test data of 83 substances including trace metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatiles/PAHs. Analysis concludes that no substances were measured at a higher concentration than what may be found in background typical air, soil and surrounding environments, and many substances were completely undetected. Standardized, modern and objective test protocols were utilized per US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and European Union toy safety standards.
“This collective body of data supports that this sample of crumb rubber is safe,” cited Tilford in the study. “The analyzed samples offered no apparent hazard.”
“We commit the resources to support independent and credible research, because our top priority is always the safety and welfare of synthetic turf users,” said John Baize, owner of Act Global. “We are pleased with the results as they are consistent with numerous other studies.”
More than 50 technical studies have been conducted during the past two decades which review the health effects of crumb rubber. These have analyzed the material as it pertains to inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact, as well as cancer. Comparable to the Act Global Crumb Rubber Safety Study, the preponderance of evidence shows no negative health effects associated with crumb rubber in synthetic turf.
Artificial turf is cost-effective, safe, highly resilient, and improves access to sports for children around the world, explains Baize. A durable synthetic turf pitch can withstand greater usage than natural grass, and accommodate multiple sports and activities, even in inclement weather conditions. According to the Synthetic Turf Council, 11,000 artificial turf fields are in use throughout the United States, saving billions of gallons of water every year.
Together, Tilford and Act Global have published the technical research analysis Act Global Crumb Rubber Safety Study. The research paper and independent lab reports are available from the company by emailing cholman@actglobal.com.
UPDATE: Sign up below to download the
Act Global Crumb Rubber Safety Study
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About Act Global
Act Global is a world leader in synthetic turf and artificial grass manufacturing. The company’s Xtreme Turf and Xtreme Lawn products replicate natural grass for use in international stadiums, indoor sport centers, synthetic lawns and other synthetic grass uses. Its LiteEarth and AvTurf products add capabilities for landfills and airport applications. Act Global has manufacturing locations in USA, Europe and Asia and installations in over 70 countries. Act Global is notable for currently being the first company in the world that is a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, Synthetic Turf Council Certified Manufacturer, World Rugby Preferred Turf Producer, and holds an ISO 9001 certification.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
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![Benefits of Synthetic Turf vs. Natural Grass]()
by Shelby Becker
Act Global renews UN Global Compact Commitment for seventh year
To continue promoting responsible, honest business practices, Act Global has committed to another year as a United Nations Global Compact member. This will be the company’s seventh year as dedicated participant.
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative to encourage responsible business practices which align with ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. The UN Global Compact strives to shape a collaborative, sustainable and inclusive global economy which benefits societies everywhere.
To maintain effective transparency and accountability, Global Compact participates are required each year to submit a Communication on Progress. The report details a company’s actions and strategies undertaken to fulfill the principles of the Global Compact. Act Global has successfully submitted a 2014 Communication on Progress to be accepted as a member for another year.
View the full Act Global UN Global Compact Report.
“We are proud to call ourselves members of the UN Global Compact and to be a leader in promoting responsible industry practices,” said John Baize and Chris Clapham, co-owners of Act Global. “We hope to inspire others to administer the principles of the Global Compact in their own business.”
A summary of some of the actions taken by Act Global:
- Annual contributions to CARE, a humanitarian organization that fights global poverty in part by providing economic opportunities to women in particular
- Support to World Vision Micro Loan Program, which helps entrepreneurs establish business in regions which have historically struggled with access to basic resources
- Synthetic turf pitch donation to Colombian non-profit organization Tiempo de Juego to benefit at-risk youth
- Ongoing research and development to expand green-friendly technologies, such as the LiteEarth environmental synthetic grass liner
- Management has committed organizational resources to work towards ISO 14001 Environmental Certification
- Donation to the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, whose mission is to increase awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying and discrimination
According to the United Nations Activity Report 2013, more than 8,000 companies and 4,000 non-business stakeholder from 150 countries have now joined the Global Compact movement. To learn more about the initiative and becoming a member, visit www.unglobalcompact.org.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
