Organic artificial turf sports pitch, sustainable, environmentally friendly, suitable for play
NaKura (sustainable artificial turf sports pitch), a product made from our ARBOBLEND® material
An artificial turf pitch made from bio-based materials has been created in Ellwangen. A milestone for sustainable sports facilities in Germany and a model for Europe.
With around 9,000 artificial turf pitches in Germany and an estimated EU-wide microplastic discharge of 16,000 tonnes annually (source: ECHA), NaKuRa (sustainable artificial turf sports pitch) makes an urgent contribution to environmental renewal.
The focus is on the ARBOBLEND® infill – an innovative infill granulate that is plant-based and biodegradable in soil and water, yet remains durable within the system over the long term.
The artificial grass fibres are manufactured using a specially developed ARBOBLEND® formulation that is plant-based and long-lasting, enabling the artificial turf pitch to facilitate permanent CO₂ sequestration. The formulation itself also offers high resistance to temperature and weathering.
The innovative elastic layer is based on single-type plastic recyclates and represents a logical step towards a circular economy. Sustainability in sport is not only possible – it is crucial for the future.
The project partners alongside TECNARO GmbH are both the Institute for Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems (IBBS) and IKT Kunststoff Technik Stuttgart, both institutes at the University of Stuttgart. Furthermore, Morton Extrusionstechnik GmbH is an associated partner and ifeu gGmbH is acting as a subcontractor. The project is supported by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the FNR Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. and the town of Ellwangen.
