The EU Commission has proposed an EU law to ban deliberately added microplastics in consumer products, including in artificial grass pitches. In the last while, this has been presented in the media almost as an unreasonable assault on football players and clubs. However, it is not the artificial grass pitches that are wanted to be banned, but the environmentally and health-damaging microplastics that are used as filling material on the pitches. A material which mainly comes from old car tyres.

In an earlier article in Weekendavisen (with the headline 'Artificial grass, no thanks!) one gets an impression from the Danish Football Union (DBU) and the club Aalborg Chang's presentation that there will be a mass exodus from the clubs: that children, young and old will not bother to play football unless it happens on plastic-filled fields. I have a bit of a hard time believing that. Especially if more people knew about the accompanying health effects when using old car tires on the tracks. Unfortunately, this problem has not been given much column space.

The microplastic contains, among other things, tar substances, the so-called PAHs, which are carcinogenic and therefore strictly regulated in other products. For carcinogenic substances, you must also be aware that there is no lower limit for effect. If you are exposed to the substances, you increase the risk of developing disease. Therefore, it is time to switch to one of the alternatives that already exist – for example, cork. From Weekendavisen's article, it appears that cork as an alternative to rubber granules is not recognized for matches at a high level. However, this is not correct as a pitch with cork can be certified as FIFA Quality Pro. And several municipalities are already changing. Great to see that some dare to go ahead, even if DBU hesitates.

This debate entry was written by senior adviser Lone Mikkelsen and was published in Weekendavisen on 3 March.

Proposal to ban microplastics

The EU Commission has made a proposal for an EU law to ban intentionally added microplastics in consumer products, including artificial grass pitches. The proposal was supposed to be voted on March 1, but it was postponed. The plan is for the proposal to be voted on on 26-27. April 2023.