LIFE T4C Unveils Sustainable Artificial Turf System
The consortium presented its microplastic-free pitch system at the FSB Forum Italy in Bergamo.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Soccer
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The LIFE T4C consortium presented a sustainable artificial turf system at the FSB Forum Italy in Bergamo, Italy, on November 11 and 12, 2026. The system uses Ecolastene, a recyclable material derived from recycled agricultural plastics that is not classified as a microplastic.
Why it matters
Artificial turf pitches filled with SBR rubber are a primary source of polluting materials released into the environment, and a study from the European Chemicals Agency has called the material into question. The presentation comes in the wake of European Commission Regulation 2023/2055, which bans the manufacture and marketing of microplastic products.
The system is built from an elastic base, turf, infill, water drainage, and filtration layers, with Ecolastene used as the infill material. Written information was gathered with a view to future commercialisation, though no launch date has been reported.
The players
LIFE T4C
A consortium that developed a sustainable artificial turf system using recycled agricultural plastics as an alternative to microplastic infill.
European Commission
The executive arm of the European Union, which adopted Regulation 2023/2055 restricting microplastic products across the bloc.
The details
At the forum, LIFE T4C representatives met visitors and displayed samples of the elastic underlay and an artificial turf model filled with Ecolastene. A slideshow documented the construction of the first pitch built with the system, at the Carlos III Municipal Football Ground in Toledo, which received FIFA Pro certification.
Timeline
End of 2023: The European Commission adopted Regulation 2023/2055 banning the manufacture and marketing of microplastic products.
November 11-12, 2026: The LIFE T4C consortium presented its system at the FSB Forum Italy in Bergamo.
Market Landscape
The presentation reflects a shift in the synthetic turf sector away from SBR rubber infill toward alternatives after Regulation 2023/2055 restricted microplastic products. Exhibitors from 17 countries at the FSB Forum Italy show the sector's broad international interest in replacing conventional infill materials.
Clubs and municipalities weighing new pitch installations now have a microplastic-free infill option under evaluation. Facility managers reviewing pitch maintenance costs should watch for commercialisation details from the consortium.
The takeaway
Replacing SBR rubber infill with recyclable alternatives is becoming a practical priority for pitch owners, as regulation tightens around microplastics. Facilities planning new or renovated pitches should track certified systems such as those built to FIFA Pro standards.
Further reading
Explore more on Soccer for coverage of pitch construction and the sport's infrastructure.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Atalayar.
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Would you trust artificial turf at your local sports field if it were marketed as eco-friendly?
