The term “sustainable” is widely used throughout the artificial grass industry, but it can mean different things to different people. For some, it relates to product lifespan. For others, it focuses on material composition, manufacturing processes or environmental documentation.
Rather than relying on broad claims, it is often more useful to look at the factors that can be measured, documented and verified.
Material composition
One of the first questions to ask is: what is the product made of?
Artificial grass can contain a variety of materials, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA). Understanding material composition helps provide insight into how a product is designed and documented.
As material transparency becomes increasingly important, many organizations are paying closer attention to the complexity of product structures and the information available about the materials used.
Product design
Design decisions influence many aspects of a product throughout its service life.
Questions such as:
- How many material types are used?
- Is the material composition clearly documented?
- Is product information available and accessible?
- How transparent is the product structure?
are becoming increasingly relevant for project owners, architects and municipalities.
Manufacturing and documentation
Manufacturing processes vary between producers. Increasingly, customers are looking for products that are supported by recognized documentation and independently verified information.
Examples include:
- Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs)
- Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
- Product certifications
- Material declarations
These tools help provide objective information that can support product evaluation.
Product performance
Long-term performance remains an important consideration.
Products that maintain their appearance and functionality throughout their intended service life may require less frequent replacement and can provide greater long-term value for owners and operators.
Performance, durability and maintenance requirements should therefore always be considered alongside environmental information.
The role of environmental data
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming increasingly important within procurement and specification processes.
An EPD presents environmental information using a standardized methodology, allowing products to be evaluated using consistent criteria. This helps project owners and decision-makers compare products based on documented information rather than marketing claims.
At the time, ONE-DNA™ products were supported by Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and Environmental Product Declarations (2024 MRPI EPDs, A1 to A3, former Hasselt production), providing access to independently verified environmental data.
Looking beyond claims
The most important question may not be whether a product is described as sustainable, but whether the claims made about it can be supported by documentation and verified information.
As regulations and reporting requirements continue to evolve, transparency, traceability and documented product information are becoming increasingly important.
By focusing on measurable criteria rather than broad claims, project owners and buyers can make more informed decisions when evaluating artificial grass products.
Update, October 2026: this article reflects the ONE-DNA™ range at the time of publication, based on polyethylene (PE). ONE-DNA™ now also includes a 100% PO route; see Technology. The EPDs mentioned (MRPI, 2024) cover the product stage (A1 to A3) of products made at the former Hasselt site and do not represent current production in Portugal.
Related: Sustainability · For professionals
