Case Study: Pivot® Performance Turf Elevates Community Athletics at Mt. Diablo High School

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Background

Melanie Koslow, Executive Director of Maintenance, Operations and Facilities for Mt. Diablo School District, found herself at a crossroads. The existing artificial turf field at Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, California, had reached the end of its lifespan sooner than expected due to drainage issues that accelerated its deterioration. The school needed a replacement artificial turf field so that play didn’t have to be put on pause. 

With limited athletic opportunities previously offered at the school, Koslow saw the artificial grass replacement as a turning point to invest in greater access to play for students at Mt. Diablo and children in the Concord community.  

With students’ need for safety, longevity and performance in mind, she carefully evaluated leading artificial grass brands to find the best field available and show the community that the school district supports getting kids involved in sports.

Solution

Koslow did not take this decision lightly. After extensive research, she chose Pivot® Performance Turf by TenCate for the multi-sport facilities at Mt. Diablo High School. Pivot checked all her boxes: artificial grass durability, an industry-leading 12-year warranty, and a low-maintenance system with no performance turf infill. She selected Pivot knowing that its reliability would give the facility an opportunity to grow five-day per week programs for all sports and ages in Concord and surrounding areas. 

Koslow also recognized that Pivot features more fibers per square foot than other artificial turf grass, giving kids a safer, more stable surface to play on. The turf is engineered to mimic natural grass, offering shock absorption and footing a level up from competing options.

Despite unexpected drainage issues from the previous artificial turf field, Pivot installation remained smooth and on schedule. 

Results

Since the high-performance turf installation, athletic participation at Mt. Diablo High School and the surrounding Concord community has surged. Students now have daily athletic opportunities all year round. Local leagues use the Pivot field to introduce kids to athletics early, establishing a lifelong love for sports and increasing the likelihood of continued play through high school and beyond. 

Koslow says, “When we get our youth involved in sports at an early age, they are more likely to continue through their high school experience. I want to be able to support our coaches and our administration in bringing that to our community from the time they’re little through their high school career.”  

The new Pivot all-weather artificial grass supported Koslow in her goal, ensuring that kids at Mt. Diablo and across the Concord community have access to a facility where they can be active outside and play with their peers.  

Conclusion

The installation of Pivot performance turf at Mt. Diablo High School is a symbol of long-term investment — in students, in equitable play and in the broader Concord community. The school now offers a safe, high-quality artificial grass system that gives more kids of all ages the chance to play and grow healthy habits that last a lifetime. 

With Pivot turf and a dedication to building the high-performance facility their students deserve, Melanie Koslow and the Mt. Diablo School District created a field that supports continued play for student athletes throughout the whole community. 

It’s Back-to-School Season: The Many Benefits of Play for Students

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Most parents are familiar with the benefits of play. From expelling energy, having fun, and engaging with their peers, play keeps kids young and joyful. Fostering a love of sports, movement or play early on can help kids continue to be active as they grow. There are good reasons for it, too. Low levels of physical activity can contribute to higher obesity rates in children. But physical health and fitness aren’t the only benefits of play. Studies show that play improves mental, emotional and social well-being, and teaches invaluable skills at all ages. With all the technology we have, we want to be sure our kids are getting enough movement and activity, too. Consider having them join an athletic team this school year! The benefits of team sports can enhance your child’s overall well-being and even their academic performance.

Collaboration and Teamwork are Benefits of Team Sports

Team sports are invaluable for learning social skills like collaboration, teamwork and empathy. Active for Life Foundation says, “With each player potentially having different strengths and weaknesses, kids learn to adapt their own play and work together.” Learning to work together towards a common goal is a valuable skill to learn as they grow older and realize they can’t take on the world alone.  

 

In-Person Play Improves Social Skills

According to New York Behavioral Health, social media and too much screen time can stunt a child’s social–emotional skill development. Without access to real-world socializing, children may have difficulty recognizing facial cues. This can mean weaker emotional intuition and trouble accessing empathy or connecting to others. In-person play can strengthen emotional awareness and social skills that kids and young adults may struggle with in a post-COVID, highly digitalized world. Team sports are a great opportunity to motivate kids and teens to get active and experience the benefits of play.

Play Reduces Anxiety and Improves Mental Health

Building self-esteem early and into adolescence is essential for overall well-being. Several studies show that participation in sports is linked to higher self-esteem and lower depression and anxiety. Sports can give student athletes a sense of self-worth and help build meaningful friendships and social networks. Sports and play are safe spaces where kids and adolescents can experience disappointment and recovery, building resilience by preparing them gently to handle future challenges.  

Improves Grades and Behavior

A study on physical activity suggests that physical play “produces important changes in the brain, which mediate enhancements in cognitive performance as well as academic achievement.” Translation? Physical activity helps kids do better in school. Additionally, when kids have a chance to play — at recess, for instance — they seem to pay more attention in the classroom and have better self-regulatory skills and impulse control.

Team Sports for the Win

The good news is that no matter what age, kids (and adults!) don’t have to ‘outgrow’ play. You can get your kids off the screen and into the game when you help them develop a love of team sports. They’ll organically learn invaluable life skills, build self-esteem, and potentially get better grades — plus, they’ll have fun doing it. 

At TenCate, it’s our mission to make the benefits of play available for everyone. That’s why we’re committed to creating spaces that promote more games, more teams and more play for your community or school. Our 24/7/365 play surfaces mean everyone can enjoy the benefits of team sports and play, and no one ever has to be left out of the game.  

Looking beyond the benefits of play for even more benefits of artificial turf? Check out our latest, most advanced turf to date, Pivot® Performance Turf.

Case Study: Safe, Low-Maintenance Artificial Turf Creates a Destination for Play

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Background

Colby Fulfer, Chief of Staff for the City of Springdale, Arkansas, isn’t afraid to jump into cutting edge products and technologies, as long as he’s done his homework. So, when it came time to install 14 new sports fields in 2023, he was looking for the best playing surface on the market that would be reliably safe for athletes.

They also wanted lower maintenance for their fields. The city of Springdale has won awards for the quality of their natural grass fields, so they know maintenance can be costly. Because the field maintenance required for artificial turf is much lower than natural grass, with no mowing, irrigation, chemical treatment or other intensive upkeep needed, the city began considering artificial turf fields.

Solution

After reviewing their options, the city found Pivot® Performance Turf by TenCate to be advantageously innovative, with durability backed by a 12-year warranty, more fibers than competitive turf systems, no performance infill and low field maintenance.

With no rubber pellets or sand, Pivot may be the best option for low-maintenance artificial turf on the market. No performance infill means minimal field grooming and no migration of infill. It promises a stable, consistent playing surface, maintaining its performance and integrity season after season. In a 12-year period — the longest warranty in the industry — a lot of costly hours of field maintenance are freed up. This, according to Fulfer, allows the city to put dollars toward other things for the community.

Alongside low-maintenance design and game-ready performance, Pivot continues to deliver proven safety backed by testing. TenCate’s annual GMAX testing report (which measures how much the turf absorbs shock away from players) puts Fulfer’s mind at ease. “When you get into a discussion about CTs and concussions, safety is super important. The annual GMAX testing report helps us know that our Pivot turf is absorbing the shock as opposed to the child or the athlete.”

Results

The unbeatable performance, low field maintenance and safety features that earned Fulfer’s trust and the city’s commitment are serving Springdale well across softball, baseball, soccer and lacrosse fields.

Even the ease of installation was notable to Fulfer. “Every question we had was answered in a timely manner… they [TenCate] were always quick to respond to us and things were done beyond our expectations. We’ve loved this relationship, and they have gone above and beyond everything we expected.”

And a unique benefit has emerged — the city is getting requests from other nearby communities, towns and organizations to use the fields. Athletes love the comfort and feel of the surface, which plays like natural grass. That enviable feel and performance of Pivot sports fields are bringing new people to the city each year.

Conclusion

This investment is delivering strong returns for the city of Springdale, expanding access to safe playing surfaces for their youth and community members, freeing up maintenance funds and helping their city become a destination for Arkansas athletes.

Pivot’s low-maintenance artificial turf has put Springdale on the cutting edge of sports turf innovation — and on the map as a destination for play.

Case Study: Better Turf for Athletes Without Performance Infill

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Background

When Wiseburn Da Vinci, a K-12 school system, needed a new soccer field, they weren’t just looking for a quick upgrade; they needed durable turf that could handle heavy year-round use. Located in El Segundo, CA, their teams compete in a competitive league, host exhibition matches, and lend the field to club teams, making performance and reliability essential. Additionally, they were looking for a solution that required less maintenance due to local water shortages. When it came to selecting the right turf, there was one clear winner: Pivot® Performance Turf.
The biggest draw? No performance infill.

Solution

Wiseburn Da Vinci wasn’t actively seeking to avoid turf infill in their new artificial grass field, but Pivot’s no performance infill design provided what mattered the most: safety, longevity, and playability, along with sustainability and reduced maintenance.

Pivot’s FIFA-certified system features a unique blend of durable sports fibers with new fibers engineered to replicate the movement and feel of natural grass. Without loose infill to scatter or compact, the surface remains consistent and reliable, resulting in better ball behavior and allowing athletes to move explosively, pivot quickly, and hit the brakes without hesitation. And Pivot’s documented data around impact, recoil, and shock absorption explains why users refer to the surface as “body friendly” and easier on the joints than other fields.

That performance is built to last. Pivot is an extremely durable turf and leads the industry with a 12-year warranty for 24/7/365 play, season after season, year after year. Additionally, because the system doesn’t rely on abrasive sand and infill, microscopic plastic pieces are less likely to enter the environment — an added sustainability benefit for a water-friendly field manufactured without added PFAS.

Maintenance is also reduced. Staff shared that they no longer need to clean up turf infill pellets after games, and no irrigation is required. Even after six to seven months of regular play without cleaning, they remark on how beautiful the durable turf field looks.

Results

Da Vinci Schools’ soccer teams split time between two fields, but the players notably prefer Pivot. They say it’s a significant improvement over other artificial grass fields, which now feel like concrete under their feet. But with Pivot, players claim it feels like they’re playing on natural grass.

According to athletes and coaches, the ball is easier to control and pass, and moves predictably across the surface. Pivot’s exceptional shock absorption also makes a difference. Players say it feels good on their joints and knees, and the school’s head coach credits the surface with supporting better performance and contributing to fewer injuries by season’s end.

Athletes also report a heightened sense of comfort and confidence to go in for challenges and play hard. The goalkeepers noted that they don’t hesitate to dive for the ball because the landings feel softer and result in fewer turf burns.

Conclusion

Pivot Performance Turf delivered the benefits Wiseburn Da Vinci School was looking for. Its intentionally engineered fibers and innovative design eliminate the need for traditional infill while providing the consistency, give, and grip of natural grass. The ball runs true, supporting the smooth, controlled play athletes rely on. The surface quality is year-round, regardless of weather or hours of use. And the best part? It doesn’t require the infill maintenance that legacy turf fields demand.

The investment is worth it; Pivot’s remarkably durable turf supports unlimited play and is backed by an unmatched 12-year warranty. That’s over a decade of athletes performing confidently and bringing their best to every match, all season long.

Revolutionary Pivot Performance Turf Installed for Wiseburn Da Vinci High School

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Date: May 7, 2025   

Contact: Jessica Flagg, j.flagg@tencategrass.com, 423-444-3262


(El Segundo, Calif.) – TenCate announces the installation of its premium Pivot® Performance Turf at Wiseburn Da Vinci High School. Pivot is the next generation of turf, requiring no performance infill (black pellets) and engineered to play just like natural grass. 

The soccer teams at Da Vinci High School have already noticed the difference with their new field. “I’ve been coaching soccer for 25 years, I have a lot of experience with a lot of different types of surfaces and I think we’re getting a level of performance that’s very similar to playing on a natural grass surface,” says Dr. Mimi Nartey, Coach, Da Vinci Girls’ Soccer. 

Pivot was developed over several years by real-life testing with college and professional level athletes with TenCate’s Center for Turf Innovation (CTI) ensuring that it provides the best playing surface possible. This testing included a partnership with PSV Eindhoven, an elite soccer club in the Netherlands, which means that Pivot not only responds well to the athlete, but also provides a more true, consistent ball roll – critical for soccer.  

“We’re incredibly enthusiastic about the level of performance Pivot offers,” says Joe Fields, CEO of TenCate Americas. “All athletes deserve to compete at their best and Pivot provides a surface that facilitates that performance. We’re thrilled to deliver this world-class field for the students and athletes at Da Vinci High School.” 

About TenCate Grass

At TenCate Grass, we design and deliver the future of turf. With over 300 years of expertise and nearly 5,000 employees worldwide, we’re a truly global company with strong local roots. We offer high-performance, turf systems for sports, landscaping, and outdoor living across more than 60 countries. Fully vertically integrated, we manage everything from R&D to recycling, working hand-in-hand with trusted local partners who bring deep expertise and on-the-ground insight. Whether it’s a world-class stadium or a community field, we deliver surfaces that perform, last, and support vibrant, active lives. 

For more, visit www.tencategrass.com. 

What Is Artificial Turf Made From?

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For over 60 years, TenCate has been shaping the future of artificial turf, crafting high-performance surfaces that serve communities and athletes alike. As a trusted leader in the industry, TenCate produces artificial turf that balances durability, safety, and its continual pursuit toward environmental responsibility. But what exactly goes into making high-quality turf, and why does it matter?

Understanding the materials behind artificial turf is key to appreciating why TenCate’s approach stands out. Committed to producing safe, high-performance fibers, the company ensures every field and sports complex is built to last — without compromising on performance.

Harmless and Durable Materials

When people hear “artificial turf,” they may wonder what it’s actually made from. Unlike early versions of synthetic turf that felt rough and unnatural, today’s best artificial grass is engineered for comfort, longevity, and player-best performance. TenCate’s artificial grass fields are crafted from the same high-quality materials found in sports equipment and athletic wear — like polyethylene and polypropylene which go into products we use every day.

We make our turf from the same materials used to make water bottles, jerseys, soccer balls, and even facemasks.

Most artificial turf fields use polyethylene (PE) fibers, which create a realistic grass-like texture. PE is known for its durability and resilience, making it ideal for sports field turf, including soccer, baseball, and football fields. The K29 backing used in Pivot® and tufted sports turf consists of two layers: one layer is 100% PP and the second layer is a blend of PET and PP. The backing plays a crucial role as well, reinforcing the structure of the turf to prevent wear and tear over time. Whether it’s a community installation or a professional artificial turf football field, know that TenCate turf is made to meet or exceed ASTM and FIFA standards.

Eliminating Harmful Chemicals

With any product that sees heavy use, especially in sports and community spaces, its interaction with players is a top priority. A major concern in the artificial turf industry has been the presence of potentially harmful chemicals, particularly PFAS. Since October of 2023, TenCate has taken a firm stance on this issue by ensuring its artificial turf is manufactured without added PFAS chemicals, offering peace of mind for athletes, families, and communities.

Not only does TenCate manufacture turf without added PFAS, it also meets strict environmental and health regulations, including compliance with California’s Prop 65.

Advancing the Next Generation of Turf

The world of artificial turf is constantly evolving, and TenCate continues to push the boundaries with new technology. One of its most exciting innovations is Pivot® Performance Turf, a next-generation solution that addresses both performance and longevity. Unlike traditional turf systems that rely on performance infill, Pivot® is designed to deliver a consistently even playing surface without it. Based on the engineering of Pivot’s unique fiber compositions, quantity and fiber density, TenCate provides a 12-year-warranty — as opposed to the 8-year warranty traditionally provided with conventional infilled turf systems.

Beyond performance, TenCate is also tackling one of the biggest challenges in the turf industry: end of life. Many people wonder, “Is artificial grass bad for the environment?” Or, “Is artificial grass good for the environment?” The answer depends on how it’s made. TenCate is leading the charge by ensuring that Pivot turf is fully recyclable after its 12-year warranty, reducing waste and making it a responsible choice for those looking to minimize their environmental footprint.1

The Future of Artificial Turf

From artificial grass for sports fields to recyclable artificial grass solutions, TenCate continues to set the bar high. By manufacturing its products without added PFAS, prioritizing its pursuit of recyclability, and designing turf that performs at the highest level, the company is redefining what synthetic turf can be. Whether you’re considering an artificial turf installation for a stadium, community park, or local school, choosing a supplier committed to safety and sustainability makes all the difference.

TenCate’s legacy is built on delivering high-quality artificial turf that doesn’t just look great but also supports healthier communities through extended activity and use compared to natural grass fields. The next time you step onto a sports field, you just might be experiencing the result of decades of research, engineering, and a commitment to doing things the right way.

1Turf recycling may not be available in all areas. Check with your local turf rep to learn more about TenCate turf recycling solutions.

 

Case Study: Breaking Records at Rice University

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Background

When Rice University needed a new artificial turf football field installed just weeks before the start of the season, TenCate was there to answer the call. As a leader in turf innovation for over 60 years, we had the knowledge and resources to accomplish what seemed impossible: installing their new high-performance turf in time for kickoff.

Solution

We upgraded their old artificial grass to Pivot® Performance Turf and had them game-ready in under two weeks. Immediately, players, coaches and staff started to experience the benefits of our most advanced artificial turf ever. Pivot turf was designed over the course of multiple years to create turf that closely replicates natural grass and be the best high-performance turf for athletes. And that’s exactly what Rice University received.

Results

The players noted a clear difference as soon as they stepped on the field. This was unlike any other turf they’d ever played on, offering next-level artificial grass performance. They found it cushy enough to have some bounce, but responsive enough to make 90-degree cuts and quick plays. Athletes don’t want a turf football field where their cleats dig too deep in the ground, but they also don’t want turf that’s too thin without any traction. Pivot Performance Turf offers them the best of both worlds—and the results are clear.

After only two games, Rice University’s Pivot field became their chosen option for everything on the field — practices included. Players started setting personal records, and preferred practicing on Pivot to the alternative. Their $700,000 natural grass practice field couldn’t compare to the new Pivot field, which offered peak performance. Coaches say it gets better every time the team plays on it, and athletes are achieving their personal best.

Their takeaway was that Pivot feels more like natural grass than anything they’ve ever played on, offering new benefits of artificial turf. Traditional turf can be very hard on athletes, with extensive recoil that can lead to player fatigue. Pivot is made with no performance infill and no black pellets, which reduces the energy returned to the athlete. Players were thrilled to experience less wear on their bodies, and no turf burn. Now when they travel to other artificial turf fields and need to wrap themselves in leggings and turf tape to avoid turf burn, they miss their home field at Rice University. They describe it as the best surface they’ve ever played on, in every way.

It’s not just the athletes who saw immediate improvements with Pivot. The coaches love being on it because they are amazed at how their bodies feel after a long practice. With former NFL players in their 50s and 60s on staff, they were used to coming off an artificial surface with soreness and swelling. On Pivot Performance Turf, they just don’t feel that way anymore. Athletes and coaches can be on the field longer, with less recovery time.

Conclusion

It was our privilege to work with Rice University and in just 12 short days, we completed Rice University’s artificial turf installation (one of our own personal records), upgrading their field and player performance with Pivot Performance Turf. Now that they have experienced the difference, they are excited about what the future holds for their team.

And with a 12-year warranty on their new field, the players at Rice will have a new home-field advantage for game after game, and season after season.

A Groundbreaking Pivot: TenCate Launches First Artificial Turf that Truly Replicates Grass Field

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DAYTON, Tenn., February 11, 2025 — TenCate, the world’s leading manufacturer, distributor and installer of synthetic turf for sports and outdoor living applications, today announced the official launch of the world’s first turf that requires no performance infill, is able to be recycled and is biomechanically engineered to replicate the feel and playability of grass sports fields.

Named Pivot® Performance Turf, the revolutionary new turf was rigorously tested by college and professional athletes wearing biosensors to record movement and surface interactions. The biometric feedback found that Pivot closely mirrors the qualities of natural grass, delivering the feedback, support, give and grip that athletes need to maximize their performance.

“Pivot is the world’s first synthetic turf that plays like grass, requires no performance infill and is able to be recycled, an unbeatable combination that is truly a gamechanger,” said Joe Fields, President and Chief Executive Officer of TenCate Americas. “It’s a transformative breakthrough that outperforms and outlasts other turfs, benefiting players and the planet for years to come.”

Pivot was developed by TenCate’s Center for Turf Innovation (CTI) after years of research. Using advanced technology and continuous testing, CTI unlocked the ideal combination of traditional, durable sports fibers and new fibers that look and feel more like natural grass. The result: an innovative new artificial grass that is strong and securely rooted, providing optimal traction and a stable, safe surface. Athletes can play on it 24/7/365 in all kinds of weather.

“Everyone seems to really like it — the playability of it, the cushioning of it,” said Eric George, Assistant Vice President and Deputy Athletic Director for Rice University. “I think one of the really cool aspects is that you don’t have the rubber pellets. So our guys aren’t getting the turf burns like what they used to get, which actually comes from the pellets more so than the turf itself.

“From players to coaches, everyone involved has really loved it,” he added.

Pivot is not just groundbreaking for athletes, it’s a leap forward for the environment as well. The revolutionary new turf:

  • Requires no performance infill, a first for turf systems. That means less materials and energy are needed to transport and install Pivot, resulting in lower carbon emissions.
  • Eliminates nearly 100% of plastic shedding because there’s no conventional infill, which causes abrasion and shedding of the turf.
  • Lasts longer than other turf systems and can be recycled at the end of its lifespan.
  • Has no detectable PFAS, PAHs or lead. It is compliant with Proposition 65 requirements in California and meets testing criteria of the FIFA, NFL and NCAA.
  • Does not need to be watered, mowed or cared for like grass, conserving water, cutting emissions from lawnmowers and eliminating the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

“Pivot opens an exciting new era of sports fields that are sustainable, durable, cost-effective and playable like no others,” said Dr. Colin Young, Global Director Research and Development at TenCate, who has been studying playing surfaces and ways to improve them for more than 20 years.

Pivot is manufactured to outperform all other types of artificial grass. It features three times more total fiber than competitive turf systems, and 16 times as many individual fibers. That means millions of state-of-the-art fibers support every quick sprint, long leap, fast cut and precision turn.

Pivot is also built to outlast all other turf systems, creating a sports field that delivers high quality, high performance and a high return on investment. It features flexible yarns to dissipate impact load and resists wear even where play is concentrated. Pivot has a 50% longer lifespan than other synthetic turf and carries an industry-first 12-year warranty.

“We’ve been using this for about 14 months now, and all of our outdoor sports teams are really appreciating the way it holds up under their feet,” said Tucker Barnard, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, Ark.

In warmer climates, using GeoCool™, a cooling additive, with Pivot can help dissipate heat and reduce surface temperatures. GeoCool is made from a renewable inorganic mineral that’s 100% recyclable and non-toxic.

Pivot is manufactured with 40% traditional sports yarns (TenCate’s world-renowned XP yarns) and 60% newly developed yarns. The innovative turf comes in three different face weights and over 10 colors to accommodate a variety of sports applications.

“Every now and then, something comes along that revolutionizes a technology, and for synthetic turf, that moment is now,” Dr. Young said. “Pivot looks, feels and plays like grass from the season opener to the championship final — game after game, season after season, year after year.”

To learn more about Pivot and TenCate’s commitment to quality and sustainability, visit https://playingforkeeps.info/pivot-turf/.

About TenCate

TenCate is the world’s leading manufacturer, distributor and installer of synthetic turf solutions for sports and landscape applications. TenCate Americas’ headquarters are in Dalton, Ga. With manufacturing facilities in the United States, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, the company serves customers in more than 40 countries with a suite of well-known brands. The company is fully vertically integrated, which enables it to control the full chain from R&D, through manufacturing, installation, maintenance and now, recycling. For more information, please visit www.tencategrass.com.

The Facts on Turf

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Polypropylene
Used in items like shin guards, face masks, yoga pants and safety vests
Polyethylene
Used in water bottles and coolers
Polyester
Used in clothing like kids’ jerseys and uniforms
Polyurethane
Used in most athletic shoes and soccer balls

The basics: what you and your lawmakers need to know

  • Turf is a solution for water scarcity. Artificial turf saves between 500,000 to 1 million gallons of water per field per year. With over 20,000 turf sports fields in the US, that’s approximately 10-20 billion gallons of water saved annually.
  • Drought can lead to dry, hard and unplayable natural grass fields. Without turf as an alternative playing surface, sports might be put on hold. This means that banning artificial turf could have serious consequences for our communities. Participation in sports increases the likelihood of attending college, reduces crime and decreases instances of drug use among youth.

Setting the record straight: PFAS, microplastics, heat island effect and recyclability

Turf poses a much lower risk of PFAS exposure compared to many items we willingly encounter daily — some of which we actually put on or in our bodies. If we’re truly concerned about PFAS, turf should be one of the last things we focus on. TenCate turf is now manufactured entirely without added PFAS, and even before this change, it only measured at 100 parts per million.

Here are a few examples:

  • Makeup
  • Prescription medications
  • Dental floss
  • Nonstick cookware
  • Rain gear
  • Contact lenses
  • Fertilizers
  • Insecticides
  • Pesticides
  • Fungicides
  • Fish
  • Water
  • Soil
  • Plants
  • Rain

It actually rains PFAS (That’s not a typo)

What’s even more concerning than raining PFAS are the proposed turf bans. These bans make a lot of assumptions about turf, opting to ban the product entirely rather than regulating the specific undesired aspects. As a result, PFAS-related bans on artificial turf will ban all turf, regardless of its PFAS content.

Since October 2023, all TenCate turf has been manufactured without added PFAS, which should exclude it from bans based on PFAS content.

But that’s not all. TenCate also addresses other concerns highlighted in proposed turf bans, like heat island effect, microplastics and recyclability. Our latest no infill turf, Pivot®, doesn’t act as a heat sink like traditional artificial turf fields filled with rubber infill. For areas worried about the heat island effect, GeoCool™ provides a field cooling solution. Additionally, no-infill turf products reduce fiber degradation and microplastic shedding by eliminating abrasive infill that can potentially migrate off fields.

We responsibly process aged turf and send it to third-party partners for additional processing and recycling.  

In essence, our turf eliminates the very issues that turf bans are intended to address. So, why is it still part of these proposed bans?

When turf is banned, our communities lose

Artificial turf provides environmental benefits that natural grass simply can’t match, along with increased access to the social benefits of play. Additionally, a ban will bring significant replacement costs and new maintenance requirements for schools and municipalities. In drought prone communities, water restrictions are likely to make the remaining natural grass fields hard, uneven and unsafe for athletes.

Even well-maintained grass fields can’t support as many hours of use as turf, meaning athletes and children will lose access to play if these turf bans pass. And play matters. Physical activity enhances overall well-being, improving physical health and fitness and supporting mental and emotional wellness.

Our environment stands to lose too. Turf doesn’t require regular irrigation and won’t burden precious aquatic ecosystems with overuse or hazardous runoff from chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, which often contain — or are classified as — PFAS.

With new generations of turf addressing concerns around heat, microplastics, recyclability and PFAS, banning turf will only harm our communities.

Join us to stop the blanket bans on artificial turf.

Sign on Today!

Exploring the Future of Artificial Turf

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Q: Colin, you’ve been a key figure in the development of Pivot. What was the inspiration behind it?

When we started ideating on Pivot, we had a goal to replicate the best quality stadium grass. We didn’t want to follow a simple evolving process involving slight, incremental improvements. We wanted to pursue something transformational. And we knew from our user feedback research there was a gap between turf and grass. Closing this ‘gap’ was essential; one of the big drivers was to measure and understand grass better so we can more effectively mimic it.

That pursuit of a grass-like experience was very much an early driver of the development of Pivot.

Q: So, there are lots of different grass fields. How did the team define the grass that became the standard for Pivot?

When I say grass, I mean the perfect stadium on the first day of the season—when it’s perfectly manicured, has experienced perfect weather, had millions of dollars spent on it and hasn’t been played on.

That’s the perfect grass. And that was our gold standard.

A perfect natural grass field is not something that exists for a season. It’s something that exists for a moment in time at the start of the year before it is used. But we wanted that moment in time to become the benchmark for turf that would mimic its properties not just on day one, but every day for years to come, regardless of the conditions. So, we spent all this time understanding grass, measuring it, seeing how it grew, and understanding how it behaved when players interacted with it.

Q: Can you further explain the unique engineering process behind Pivot?

It took hundreds of design iterations, years of testing and biomechanical analysis. We even broke a few machines along the way and had to custom rebuild them to get what we needed out of them. It was a process. But we used our engineering prowess, our knowledge of polymers and chemistry and turf design, as well as real world biomechanical data from athletes to better mimic what the players were experiencing on natural grass.

Ultimately, it all comes down to the fibers. We’ve developed a process that conditions the yarns, forming a non-organized structure, much like the way grass grows. This helps create a player/field interaction that is more like the natural grass experience, instead of that harsh and immediate recoil that is common for turf surfaces, especially with rubber infill. That grasslike interaction is what we were chasing.

Q: What biomechanical benefits does Pivot offer athletes?

Understanding why players want to play on natural grass, from a biomechanical and kinesiological point of view, is what helped create a surface that doesn’t give a strong pushback or recoil that increases loads on the player. The fibers have memory, which means they gently absorb loads like cleat pressure, but then slowly return to their original shape and position the way grass does. Players get the protection from load absorption but without high ricochet, just like they get on grass.

Q: What about overheating? That seems to be a tough performance factor for turf to overcome.

So, the biggest problem with heat is the rubber crumb. Those little black pellets (typically ground up car tires) absorb and radiate heat, especially on sunny days. Pivot has eliminated the need for rubber crumb infill, so it doesn’t heat up as much. Additionally, in hotter climates, our natural GeoCoolTM additive can offer additional cooling power that keeps the surface closer to the temperature of natural grass.

Q: Does Pivot improve ball action, especially in sports like soccer and baseball?

Having a natural, consistent ball roll and bounce was really important. We wanted to emulate the interaction that a ball would have with natural grass. And because Pivot requires no performance infill, you’re not getting displacement of infill that creates inconsistencies on the fields from low and high spots. With Pivot, every time the ball hits, it’s predictable. The field stays put.

Another thing is the yarn is not tufted to fall in one direction like most turfs. The yarns are non-directional, meaning the ball rolls the same in all directions, making it much more predictable. This a ‘true’ roll and is very important to players, especially in soccer.

Q: Does Pivot perform better for one sport over another?

We can make minor iterations within the entire turf system to make Pivot adaptable to the sport or surface you want to create. But the fundamentals like grip and biomechanics that matter for every sport remain consistent from sport to sport. That’s where Pivot shines, playing like natural grass.

Q: We’ve talked a lot about the innovation and performance of Pivot. One thing we haven’t touched on, which is instrumental to your company and a huge part of your mission, is sustainability. How does Pivot contribute to environmental sustainability?

While our products reduce the need for irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides on playing fields, and are all designed without PFAS, Pivot has a few unique attributes worth mentioning.

Firstly, there is a potential emissions reduction when shipping Pivot because we don’t need truckloads of sand and infill. While the turf itself is heavier, it does avoid some carbon emissions because you don’t need those extra infill materials and extra vehicles for transportation.

Additionally, Pivot offers a 12-year warranty — the longest warranty in the industry, and this is because it lasts. Without performance infill, there is reduced abrasion against the fibers, decreasing wear. The field plays the same as it did day one for years to come. That longevity is really important, and it leads to another important sustainability attribute.

Our testing shows that Pivot doesn’t shed microplastics the way other fields do because there is so little, or virtually no, abrasion. That’s huge.

And when Pivot does reach the end of its best playability, it’s much easier to recycle because there aren’t components like sand and rubber to extract first. This makes it much simpler to build circularity into the life cycle of this product.

In fact, we’re doing quite a lot of work on LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments) and total cost of ownership. Due to its longer lifespan, reduced maintenance and no need to top-off infill, Pivot is more affordable than almost all other turf on the market over its lifespan. As the results come in, we’re very pleased and can’t wait to share them.

At TenCate, we’re always working towards reducing our environmental impact. That perspective was key in the development of Pivot. Our vision is to build healthier, more beautiful communities. And as the global leader in sustainability for artificial turf, our goal is to offer top-tier performance combined with true sustainability benefits for programs and athletes.

Curious to learn more about Pivot?
Please reach out to our sales team or learn more at playingforkeeps.info/pivot/.

736 Market Street, Suite 1700,
Chattanooga, TN 37402

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1131 Broadway Street
Dayton, TN 37321-1802

423.775.0792

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