SAPCA member, Notts Sport, has completed the UK’s first-ever sports pitch installation using PureGrain infill. Working with fellow SAPCA member, Desso Sports, the project at Preston School, Yeovil also involved the use of pioneering ShockWave technology.
PureGrain by Tarkett has been designed to replace the use of rubber infills in synthetic sports pitches and represents an advancement in sports surface sustainability. The revolutionary solution, derived from corn cob, represents a major step towards a more eco-friendly future without compromising performance.
PureGrain constitutes an entirely plant-based infill. Sourced from the non-edible portion of the corn cob and a by-product of corn seeds, the renewable resource is cultivated in France using entirely non-GMO methods. The outcome is an environmentally conscious, dust-free, and biodegradable filling, promoting sustainability in sports surfaces.
In conjunction with the PureGrain installation, Notts Sport has integrated its game-changing ShockWave technology, further elevating the performance and safety standards of the facility. ShockWave’s advanced shock-absorption capabilities ensure a reduced risk of injuries for athletes, allowing them to focus on their game without compromising their well-being.
Duncan Bennett, Notts Sport Managing Director, said, “We’re incredibly proud to introduce the UK’s first-ever PureGrain installation. We have been pushing and advocating sustainability and sustainable design in projects across sport, play and cricket for many years, so partnering with Desso on this scheme and adopting the PureGrain infill technology was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to innovation and sustainability further.
“We recognise the importance of early innovation adoption, including new infills such as PureGrain. We have already won awards for projects using non-infill 3G surfaces in 2022, and here at Preston School with PureGrain, we are hopefully demonstrating that Notts Sport customers will have access to an ever-increasing range of new and sustainable solutions.
“Utilising the PureGrain infill with a high-quality 3G turf and the underlying ShockWave EcoBase system, we have delivered the ideal artificial grass pitch where we have eliminated microplastic performance infill and with an unrivalled sustainable base system incorporating the 100% recyclable ShockWave performance layer installed onto a reduced stone base ensuring that we limit the impact on the environment whilst providing a state-of-the-art 3G pitch both now and for the future.”