Environment, Football | Three football clubs in Sarpsborg receive almost 900,000 kroner in plastic bags

The three Sarpsborg clubs thus receive the money to create obstacles, so that rubber granules from their artificial grass pitches do not disappear into nature and thus become an environmental problem.

1,500 tonnes disappear from railways annually

It is Handelens Miljøfond and the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) that distribute these plastic bag crowns to Norwegian football clubs that have artificial grass pitches. In December last year, the news came that Handelens Miljøfond is allocating NOK 80 million to local measures against the spread of rubber granules from Norwegian football pitches, and as recently as March this year, the fund, in collaboration with the NFF, launched the initiative “More football, less plastic”, where they made it possible for clubs and track owners across the country to apply for support for environmental measures.

the article continues below the image

In a press release, Handelens Miljøfond states that in the first phase, 40 million plastic bag kroner will be distributed, and that three of Sarpsborg’s own clubs have now been awarded amounts of several hundred thousand kroner:

• Borgen Idrettslag receives NOK 145,000
• Sarpsborg Football Club receives NOK 350,000
• Tune Sports Club receives NOK 400,000

This money will therefore go to measures against the spread of rubber granules from their artificial grass pitches in nature. Every year, 1,500 tonnes of plastic disappear from Norwegian artificial grass pitches.

The last Østfold club to be allocated funds is Trøgstad/Båstad Fotballklubb, which receives NOK 300,000.

– Takes the problem seriously

– There has been great interest in receiving support for environmental measures at local football pitches, and it is good to see that so many football clubs across the country are taking the issue seriously. Borgen Idrettslag, Sarpsborg Fotballklubb, Tune Idrettslag and Trøgstad/Båstad Fotballklubb are some of the clubs that accepted the lace fit and contribute to more football and less plastic, says Cecilie Lind, head of Handelens Miljøfond, in a press release that was sent out Wednesday afternoon.

According to Handelens Miljøfond, the initiative “More football, less plastic” is the boost of the times to solve the challenge associated with rubber granules going astray. With physical barriers on all artificial grass pitches in Norway, it is hoped to reduce up to 95 per cent of the granule leakage, they write in the press release.

Handelens Miljøfond stresses that the clubs and pitch owners who have been granted funds must take measures to prevent rubber granules ending up in nature, such as physical barriers on and around the football pitches.

also read

This must not happen – there will now be a supervisory action against artificial grass pitches

– This is a real problem on many of the country’s artificial grass pitches right now. Many clubs and municipalities are lagging behind, and we neither can nor will close our eyes to an environmental challenge. The fact that so many clubs have already applied shows that they really want to reduce the wastage of rubber granules, says Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Association, in the same press release.

The EU bans rubber granules

However, both Handelens Miljøfond and the Norwegian Football Association agree that rubber granules that disappear into nature are a major social challenge and environmental problem. In Norway, there are over 2,000 artificial grass pitches, and calculations estimate that around 1,500 tonnes of rubber granules are spread from these pitches each year. In practice, this means that between half and one tonne of rubber granules disappear from each artificial grass pitch where environmental measures have not been established in accordance with regulations.

the article continues below the picture

– Football is an incredibly important arena for children, young people and adults all over the country, and we at Handelens Miljøfond are happy to be able to use plastic bag crowns for such a concrete project that we know has a significant environmental footprint, and at the same time contributes to more football activity in Norwegian paths, says Lind.

also read

Not worried about the granulate ban: – We will add new granules next year

In September last year, the EU decided to ban the sale and marketing of rubber granules as infill material in artificial grass pitches from 2031. This means that rubber granules must be phased out of Norwegian football pitches and replaced with another type of infill. Physical barriers around the artificial grass pitches will also be important when environmentally friendly and good alternatives replace the rubber granules, the press release states.

Can apply for money until 7 June

– The most important thing for us is to reduce plastic in nature, but it is also not desirable to have other types of infill on the way from an environmental perspective. This measure is definitely an investment for the future, says Lind in Handelens Miljøfond.

So far, just under 100 clubs have applied for support, but the press release states that there are still several plastic bag crowns to be distributed. Handelens Miljøfond and the Norwegian Football Association encourage clubs that have not applied to be inspired by those that have already done so. The application portal is open until 7 June, they write in the press release.