One of the main arguments often put forward against the use of artificial grass in backyards around the country is that it’s bad for the environment.
These arguments usually come from the angle that synthetic turf uses plastics that pollute the environment, end up in landfills, damage soil quality or drainage, and add nothing beneficial to the air.
But is there another side to the artificial grass vs real grass story?
There certainly is. It may be disingenuous for some turf companies to promote artificial grass as a “green” solution but potential buyers should know the full story when it comes to the environmental impact of artificial turf.
Let’s take a deeper look…
IS ARTIFICIAL GRASS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
There are both pros and cons of artificial grass and real grass for the environment. Many of the criticisms leveled at artificial grass are directed at older types of grass that are no longer produced (or low-quality grass/sports turf). Manufacturing processes and technological advancements have corrected many of the decades-old faults of turf.
It’s very simplistic, therefore, to say that natural grass is eco-friendly and synthetic grass is plastic so it’s bad—it’s not a “black and white” issue. Most discussions are one-sided either supporting artificial grass as a green alternative to real grass or condemning it as harmful to the environment.
The truth lies somewhere in between and to properly assess environmental impact, we must consider toxic load, water usage, fossil fuel usage, and the lifespan of the materials as well as the ease of disposal, and soil/air quality. The manufacturing and installation processes must be considered alongside the maintenance involved in caring for different types of grass spaces.
WHY IS ARTIFICIAL GRASS APPEARING IN BACKYARDS MORE OFTEN?
Artificial grass surfaces are manufactured from various types of plastics, with rubbers and silica-based materials also used in installations.
Turf is usually made from polyethylene, polypropylene or nylon, with turf fibers resembling grass blades machine-stitched into a permeable backing with glue added for extra adhesiveness.
Modern synthetic grass comes in many types, with a wide range of pile heights, weights, densities, and colors. Once installed, it is topped with infill that helps to create a realistic appearance. Turf may even include a thatch layer (brown grass resembling dead grass), which is a feature of natural grass lawns.
Technological advancements have improved the quality and appearance of natural grass—so much so that it can be hard to tell the difference between the best synthetic turf and real grass. It is soft and springy and the color, texture, and length can be customized to different usages.
Technology is also pertinent when considering environmental impact as great efforts have been made to address the shortcomings of artificial grass in this respect—as you will see later.
Synthetic turf has been used in sports arenas for decades but, in the past 20 years, we are seeing it more regularly as a replacement for natural grass in residential lawns.
Before we get into the environmental concerns and the ways that artificial grass can aid the environment, let’s look at the main reasons why synthetic grass is increasing in popularity in homes across North America.:
- The best turf closely resembles real grass
- Extremely low maintenance
- Next to no watering is required (especially beneficial in drought areas)
- Looks green and pristine all year round with no bald patches, divots or mud
- Durable and long-lasting with a lifespan of up to 20 years
- Saves money every year and pays back the higher installation costs in around 5 years
- Needs no sunlight to grow—an excellent choice for shaded yards
- All weather—can be used after rain, snow, and ice
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MAIN CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL GRASS
Given the benefits outlined above, what are the main concerns voiced about artificial grass and its impact on the environment?
Pollution and release of PFAs
The pollution argument against artificial grass comes from a few main angles:
- The turf releases polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) into the environment
- The turf is made from plastics, fragments of which can make their way into the soil, causing microplastic pollution.
- Turf ends up in a landfill (discussed separately below)
PFAs are widely used, “forever” chemicals that only break down very slowly over time. They have been used since the 1940s for their fire-resistant, dirt-repellent, and water-repellent properties. Considerable pressure has been exerted from various groups to lessen the use of these chemicals in products to reduce pollution and the potential risk to human and animal health.
In the past, lead was used extensively in artificial grass and PFAs were used as lubricants for the extrusion machines for yarn as the turf blades are manufactured. Old sports fields with artificial turf used to exacerbate this problem by using crumb rubber infill made from recycled tires which often retained PFA substances, as well as heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Despite reports still linking PFAs to artificial turf sold at major U.S. retailers, all major turf manufacturers in the U.S. have switched to other, safe lubricants. This is outlined in press releases, such as this one from a manufacturer of PFA-free artificial turf in Georgia.
Shaw Industries, one of the largest turf manufacturers in the country said in a statement in 2023:
“PFAS chemicals are one of many substances that we require our supply partners to disclose the presence of in raw materials, components, and finished goods purchased by Shaw. Based on information provided to date by suppliers, Shaw Sports Turf does not use PFAS chemicals… to manufacture the components of its sports turf field products.”
All of the lawn turf and pet turf supplied and installed by Artificial Grass Pros is PFA-free—and we never use crumb rubber as infill, in our installations. Instead, we use a silica-based infill.
It’s also worth noting that PFAs are still used in some common, everyday products such as shampoos, cleaning products, non-stick cooking equipment, waterproof clothing, paint, cosmetics, and more—without outcry.
Besides this, we’ll get into the true toxic load of natural grass in the section below.
Impact on soil health, soil organisms, and wildlife habitat
The argument goes that when artificial grass is installed, a plastic film is effectively placed over the soil. This can restrict the amount of rainfall entering the soil system, drying it out and also restricting the amount of air it receives.
This is said to impact the tiny organisms that live in the soil as well as burrowing insects and soil dwellers such as worms. Additionally, artificial grass is accused of restricting access to natural materials like leaf litter and grass clippings, which soil organisms feed on to keep the soil healthy.
In actual fact, when the ground under artificial grass is prepared properly and high-quality, permeable artificial grass is used, adequate drainage results and the soil system does not suffer from lack of water.
Insects like beetles attract birds and other wildlife that feed on the soil invertebrates, which is also generally considered healthy for the environment. So, the loss of wildlife habitat from artificial grass is also a concern for some.
Carbon footprint
It is often argued that artificial grass creates a large carbon footprint through its manufacturing, transportation, and installation. However, natural grass sod must also be prepared, transported, and installed too!
That artificial grass is manufactured in factories using plastics that burn fossil fuels during the production process cannot be disputed That’s not great for the environment—but, as we will see below, that’s not the whole story when comparing grass and synthetic turf.
Real grass and plants are also known to absorb carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Carbon is also stored naturally in soil. Like all living plants, grass also releases oxygen. The concern is that by replacing planted areas with artificial grass, we are increasing the carbon footprint in homes and not returning any benefit to the atmosphere.
The total carbon footprint of natural grass that must be mowed and maintained is not quite as positive as it’s made out to be, though—as we’ll see below.
Besides, opinions on whether artificial grass contributes to global warming are likely to be shaped by overall views on the great “climate debate”.
Increased risk of flooding
It is sometimes claimed that artificial grass is more likely to cause surface runoff and flooding after significant rainfall.
Real grass does usually provide a natural drainage system as most soils drain well naturally—but this is not always the case. Some soils like clay are less permeable than others.
Besides, the best artificial grass installed by turf professionals addresses the drainage situation. Rainfall drains as well as natural grass, if the ground is prepared properly and sufficient permeability in the backing materials allows liquids to pass through (even dog pee!)
The turf installed by Artificial Grass Pros handles 28-30+ inches of rain per hour per square yard, which is more than adequate for most areas of the country.
An increased risk of flooding may be a fair claim for poor quality or DIY artificial turf installations—but drainage is not a problem with Artificial Grass Pros installations.
Excessive heating
Another major concern about artificial grass is that it absorbs the sun’s radiation and heats up more than real grass in the sunshine—and therefore contributes to global warming.
Artificial grass does get hotter than natural grass in the summer. However, advances in manufacturing technology have led to turf products that reduce the heating effect. Claims that artificial grass gets too hot in the summer and can become unstable are untrue for good quality turf— unless sunlight is reflected off windows, which can melt synthetic grass.
Lack of recycling
Artificial grass is not biodegradable and is currently difficult to reuse or recycle. This means it may end up in a landfill at the end of its life, potentially releasing toxins into the soil.
Artificial grass is made from bonded fibers that can be difficult to separate and recycle. There is a need for more specialist plants for recycling artificial grass to be set up across the country to make the recycling process more convenient for “dead” artificial grass. This is certainly an area that can be improved with technology and there are initiatives in place for this.
It should be noted that some artificial turf is now made from 100 percent recycled plastics—a trend that we may well see more of in the future. Some brands have even started to produce bio-based turf with a plant-based backing, such as renewable soybean oil.
HOW IS ARTIFICIAL GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
The above arguments against artificial grass are sometimes rolled out without consideration of the aspects where artificial grass is more eco-friendly than real grass. Let’s take a look…
MUCH lower water usage than natural grass
The upkeep of real grass requires a lot of water, especially in hotter, drier areas of the country. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that outdoor water use accounts for up to 60 percent of total household water use in some states.
Simply keeping natural grass green and lush is especially challenging in drought-stricken areas of the country.
Artificial grass will look green and pristine without any water—though some homeowners hose down the area from time to time to clean the turf and for general hygiene. This requires approximately one-tenth of the water used to irrigate real grass.
Lawn irrigation uses an average of 0.623 gallons per square foot. For a 1,000-square-foot lawn, that’s 623 gallons each time!
If you water a1,000-feet grass lawn twice a week, you use 2 x 623 gallons = 1246 gallons per week = 4984 gallons per month.
By contrast, rinsing a 1,000-feet area of artificial grass once a month uses around 60 gallons of water.
By this calculation, real grass uses 83 times as much water as artificial grass, which is better for the environment and better for your water bill.
Fewer toxic materials are used to maintain artificial grass
Artificial grass is not quite maintenance-free. For instance, as well as rinsing periodically, some homeowners vacuum artificial turf lawns to clear dirt and debris or need to deep clean stains.
The minimal resources required for this compare favorably with the considerable and often-underestimated resources needed to maintain a natural grass lawn, which includes:
- The use of inorganic fertilizers that are bad for the environment
- The use of potentially toxic pesticides and herbicides that can be harmful to human health
- The use of commercial weedkillers like Roundup can be bad for wildlife and the environment
With real grass maintenance., potentially toxic chemicals can seep into the soil and run off into rivers and lakes, damaging the quality of the soil and the water. It can also be harmful to human health and may pose a risk to children and pets if they use the space.
It should be noted, however, that some homeowners use only organic fertilizers, pesticides, and weedkillers to reduce toxicity and pollution.
Lower fossil fuel usage with artificial grass
Because no mowing is required for artificial grass, there’s generally zero use of fossil fuels or electricity in maintaining lawns (unless you use a leaf blower or a vacuum cleaner).
Large amounts of petroleum-based products or electricity are needed to power lawn mowers required to cut real grass lawns, especially the ride-on mowers for large gardens.
You may be surprised to learn that using a petrol mower produces the same air and noise pollution levels as running 11 cars simultaneously for the same time frame. And that running a lawnmower for an hour has a polluting effect similar to that of driving a car for 100 miles.
So, while the argument goes that real grass is a living organism that gives out oxygen and reduces the carbon—and is, therefore, better for the environment—this ignores the fact that by mowing the lawn, that stored carbon is going straight back to where it was taken from.
Edgers, trimmers, and weed whackers also need fuel to power them, increasing the use of carbon emitters. We should also mention grass clippings, which are often bagged in plastic and transported to landfills unless they are composted.
Long lifespan
There are undoubted challenges with disposing of artificial grass and recycling it. However, the best artificial grass lasts for up to 20 years, so it provides years of benefits and cost savings.
A well-maintained grass lawn can last up to 30 years but the average lawn lasts 15-20 years— with a much shorter lifespan if the grass is not well cared for.
LOW-MAINTENANCE ALTERNATIVES TO ARTIFICIAL GRASS
The negative effects of artificial grass on the environment are often overstated and the positives are omitted. Hopefully, the argument has been balanced up here.
If you’re not ready to make the switch to artificial grass but still want a solution to replace grass, consider some alternative low-maintenance backyard landscaping ideas, such as natural bark chips, pea gravel, mulch, stone or pavers.
Homeowners have a wide array of choices if they’d prefer to spend their weekends doing something they love rather than the yard work.
FAQs
What are the main downsides of artificial grass?
Putting aside the environmental question, the main downside usually associated with artificial grass is its high upfront cost compared to real grass. Installation costs of turf are significantly higher but the return on investment over 10-20 years is significant.
Homeowners may also find that artificial grass gets hotter to the touch than real grass but professional installation of high-quality grass can help maintain cooler yard spaces. Be sure to use artificial grass that is free of PFAs and you should have very few problems.
Where is artificial grass banned?
Artificial grass is prohibited in some Californian cities, as well as in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Colorado.
The use of PFAs in artificial grass is in the process of being banned in some states too, with Vermont and Colorado leading the way.
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ECO-FRIENDLY TURF SPACES…
Artificial grass has its environmental consequences but so does real grass. All turf installed by Artificial Grass Pros is free of PFAs, ultra-low maintenance, recyclable, and looks like the real thing.
Many of our installations will last up to 15-20 years and we’ve helped thousands of homeowners make the switch from natural grass to low-maintenance synthetic turf over the past two decades.
If you’re considering the switch, discuss your options with an artificial grass professional.
