EU restricts PAHs for artifical grass Rubber infills

According to "European Rubber Magazine", on July 21, the European Commission issued the (EU) 2021/1199 Directive in its official gazette. This Directive amends the content of Article 50 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Annex XVII of REACH by adding 5 items. Clause concerning the control of plastic/rubber particles and coverings. Among them, the European Commission will reduce the concentration limit of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particles and coverings used as filling materials for artificial turf or playgrounds from the current 100mg/kg to 20mg/kg, which is expected to start on August 10, 2022 Implement.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) pointed out that the restrictions will apply to any refill and new particle filler materials. ECHA has conducted follow-up studies on substances other than polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in particulate matter and coverings, identified 300 chemicals, and conducted further studies on some of them. ECHA recommends further evaluation of the health effects of cobalt and zinc, as well as the environmental effects of cadmium, bisphenol A, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and a series of other chemicals.

According to the latest survey results of the European environmental protection organization, waste tire rubber pellets (SBR) will cause serious harm to human health and environmental safety, because natural wind and human activities will spread SBR particles to the entire natural environment. This kind of dust spread by SBR is called microplastics, which has caused substances to seep into drinking water and the food we eat. A global study conducted in 2019 by the environmental charity World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) showed that people may eat up to 5 grams of plastic each week, which is equivalent to a credit card.

 The ECHA report proposes several options for handling tire rubber granular fillers, including a ban on placing fillers on the market after a six-year transition period. Other solutions focus on how to prevent rubber particles from spreading, such as forcing fences around the stadium, installing brushes to remove particles from shoes, and using filters to prevent fillers from entering the drain. One of the measures is to put built-in socks on the football shoes, so that the socks are tightly attached to the ankles to prevent particles from entering the shoes and being taken to other places.

According to ECHA data, 42,000 tons of microplastics end up in the environment each year, of which 16,000 tons come from granular fillers used in artificial grass. In the European Union, about 51,000 sports fields are paved with artificial turf and use rubber pellets filled with waste tires.

The European Environment Agency (EEB), which represents a green non-governmental organization, said, “We should strive to develop materials that can be recycled and reused. If a clear deadline is set and the necessary time is provided, then innovation will come.”

The 100% recyclable green environmental protection product "Artificial grass TPE rubber granules" recommended by SURPASS Company, it can fully meet the environmental protection requirements of the EU market and better sports physical performances: