회사 소식 EU Microplastics Ban: Why Shock Pads Are Becoming a Must-Have Under Artificial Turf

The EU has set a hard deadline for rubber infill on artificial turf. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055, adopted on 25 September 2023, restricts the sale of intentionally added microplastics — the synthetic polymer granules (SBR, EPDM, TPE and similar) traditionally used as infill on synthetic football pitches. For infill on synthetic turf pitches, the transition period runs until 17 October 2031. After that date, plastic-containing granules can no longer be sold for new pitch construction or for refilling, although existing pitches may continue to be used and maintained.

Why this matters to you: infill is one of the largest components of a modern artificial turf system. As the deadline approaches, facility owners, architects and contractors across Europe are rethinking how new pitches should be built — and shock pads have moved to the centre of the discussion.

According to guidance published by KIMO, an international network of local authorities working on marine litter, incorporating a shock pad into the pitch design can reduce the amount of infill required by 60–70% — for example by lowering pile length from 60 mm to 40 mm and letting the shock pad take over part of the shock-absorption function. This is one of the most practical ways to cut rubber granule use without compromising player safety or playing performance.

A shock pad does more than reduce infill. It helps the whole system meet the performance requirements of FIFA's Quality Programme for Football Turf and World Rugby's Rugby Turf Performance Specification — including shock absorption, vertical deformation and ball rebound. World Rugby's facility guidance describes the shock pad as optional but notes that, with current technologies, it is unlikely that you will achieve the correct test results without one.

If you are planning a new pitch or upgrading an existing one, the questions to ask your supplier are simple: How much infill does this system actually need? What shock absorption level does the shock pad provide? And does the whole system meet the standard required for your level of play?

As a manufacturer of both shock pads and TPE infill granules, we help buyers plan this transition in practice. TPE granules remain a strong choice for markets and applications outside the scope of the EU restriction — and within the EU until the 2031 deadline — while a shock pad cuts the infill volume your system needs in the first place. Tell us your market, your timeline and your target standard, and we will help you configure a system that fits.

Talk to our team about designing a turf system around a high-performance shock pad and the right infill strategy for your market.