With more than 35 years of experience, we’ve seen a lot of changes in the sports surfacing industry. From technological advancements, to regulatory adaptations, it’s been crucial that we evolve our business to provide the most up-to-date and sustainable service for our clients.
As well as the changes within our own business, it is important to us that we work alongside partners and suppliers who uphold these values too. As the industry continues to change, we sat down with some of those suppliers to share our predictions for the future, as well as a look back to where everything began.
Since you began in the industry, what are the biggest changes you have noticed?
“One of the biggest changes has to be the recycling of old turf systems. Now, it is becoming more and more traceable and the relevant authorities are wanting to show they are acting responsibly around where their end of life turf goes. This is not just in the UK, it is a global issue that still needs to be addressed and a legislation brought in so everyone has to recycle the end of life turf in a closed loop process.”
Andy Whelan, Managing Director at AS Sports Systems
“Since starting in the industry 10 years ago, the largest change has been the drive for sustainability. It is a fast-moving industry with sport’s governing bodies and industry associations driving changes on a year-to-year basis. As a test institute, it is our responsibility to work alongside these associations and companies to aid the development of sustainable products and practices.”
Dr Carolyn Webb, Operations Manager at Labosport Ltd
“I began working in the Industry in 1997 and the single biggest change has been the onset of 3G surfaces. These weren’t around back then and they only really came into being in around 1999. Until then, all surfaces were either non-filled or sand-filled but with the arrival of this sand/rubber mix, this opened up a world of difference for the users. All of a sudden, they could use their normal studded football boots on a surface that felt and played like natural grass.
The other big difference has been how sports-specific surfaces are nowadays. Tennis clubs can choose from slow artificial clay surfaces to fast artificial grass surfaces and everything in-between. Rugby has bespoke surfaces catering for the rigours and impact of the game of rugby. Hockey has elite surfaces for their international teams, high quality surfaces for the club/school game and multi-purpose surfaces for schools to use to develop the game whilst also allowing other sports to be played.”
Rick Thorley, General Manager at Lano Sports UK
“The biggest changes for me seem to be the drive for quality and the drive for sustainability. There has seemed to be a shift away from completely ‘multi-sport’ surfaces (2G) into surfaces that are perfect for a designated sport. Larger schools and universities particularly wish to have designated pitches for each sport offering, and want the best product on that pitch for the sport played, as opposed to compromising between various sports to receive a ‘multi-sport’ product.
Over the last few years I have noticed a definite drive for public bodies to ask more questions related to the environmental impact of their pitch and how they can undertake projects with elements of environmental positives.”
Louis Keeley, Senior Consultant at Labosport Ltd
“The use of social media in marketing has been a major change. It’s great to see the comments from the community that use the pitches we supply. From a practical point of view, the implementation of Health and Safety into the workplace has had a major impact. This has not only changed the construction site, but the work needed in the pre and post construction phases.”
Tom Snowden, Estimator at AS Sports Systems
Where do you see things changing in the next five years? How does that make you feel?
“I would like to see 4G (non filled) products become more popular and recognised by the governing bodies as a solution to filled products, especially as Europe is banning the use of SBR (recycled tyres) as an infill, and the alternatives do not perform as well. Manufacturers need to do a lot more work to get 4G to where it needs to be but I think this is the solution.”
Andy Whelan, Managing Director at AS Sports Systems
“There is a very clear movement towards sustainability across the industry. Whether it be the use of recycled materials, closed loop recycling or the reduction of water use in ‘Dry Turf’ systems (as at Down Grange). These changes are great to see.
Combined with the positive impact our projects have on the mental and physical wellbeing of communities, I’m very happy with where our industry is headed.”
Tom Snowden, Estimator at AS Sports Systems
“Recently there has been a big push towards sustainable alternatives for artificial turf, including the use of recycled materials and exploring the use of alternative infill materials. The next five years should see further research and development and the implementation of these materials on a wider scale.
The future of the industry is essential for the health and wellbeing of communities across the country, to ensure that high quality playing surfaces are accessible for sport to be played on and further increase physical activity. This is as important for small children going to school and local community centres, as it is for professional athletes at the highest level.”
Dr Carolyn Webb, Operations Manager at Labosport Ltd
“Over the next 5 years, I see a movement towards more environmentally-friendly systems. This will include the carpet itself becoming fully recyclable, hockey systems moving away from wetfields at the elite level and 3G systems using natural infills. It may even be that we look to replace infill systems with non-infill systems.
This can only be a good thing as we need to contribute towards reducing our negative impact on the environment. However, we need to be careful that by changing our systems to suit the changing environment, we don’t compromise the quality of these systems as this may ultimately impact on the quality of the experience for the consumer.”
Rick Thorley, General Manager at Lano Sports UK
“Clients are putting more onus on finding solutions that are better for the environment. There is lots going on in terms of R&D into alternative products, innovation categories and performance standards, that will potentially lead to a shift in the market away from traditional 3G with sand and SBR rubber infilled products. This has the ability to increase cost, and I would expect in 5 years there to have been a further drive in adjusting to alternative systems and products, with new innovation in products for 2G and 3G surfaces.
The appetite from clients to still get ‘the best of the best (for their affordable price)’ will be there, so it is up to the market to come up with ways in which performance and longevity can be maximised without large project cost increases.”
Louis Keeley, Senior Consultant at Labosport Ltd
What is a key trend you’d like to see more of?
“I’d like to see closed loop recycling become more accessible with more plants opening across the country to bring down the costs. I’d also like to see all contractors buying in to it until it becomes legislation.”
Andy Whelan, Managing Director at AS Sports Systems
“Non-infill surfaces for football enhance the experience for the consumer, but they are more costly than 3G systems to install and they are not yet recognized by the governing bodies such as FIFA. I’d like to see more of these surfaces installed but this advancement is being hindered by both the high cost and the lack of support by the governing bodies. As an industry, we need to work towards changing this.”
Rick Thorley, General Manager at Lano Sports UK
“Closed Loop Recycling. A S Sports Systems are early adopters of this process. I hope we see the entire industry move towards this in the near future.”
Tom Snowden, Estimator at AS Sports Systems
As our industry continues to evolve, it’s important that each one of us within it keeps quality and sustainability in mind. We’re looking forward to seeing which of our predictions come to light whilst we continue to adapt to key trends and always keep an eye on our environmental impact. Thank you to Lano Sport UK and Labosport Ltd for their contributions.
If you’re looking for a new sports surface or want to chat to one of our team about our work in the industry, get in touch today.
