In Tokyo, the 2020 Olympic Games will use biobased polyethylene produced by Braskem in its field hockey turf.
Turf maker Polytan says 60% of the Poligras turf will be made with biobased filaments. An elastic base layer ensures optimum absorption while a low-CO2 binder ensures permanent binding. The field will also require just a third of the water as previous surfaces used in Olympic games. The Tokyo Games have set a target of being the first-ever carbon neutral Olympics.
“FIH [International Hockey Federation] is delighted that this new turf technology will support Tokyo’s carbon-neutral vision and make a positive contribution to the Games… FIH firmly believes that hockey can contribute to a more sustainable environment by making use of all the technological possibilities modern turf offers,” says FIH CEO Thierry Weil.
Braskem’s biobased polyethylene is produced using ethanol derived from sugarcane.