Artificial turf fields with plant-based infill — Käpylä to receive a field that does not use any infill

The artificial turf fields of Myllypuro and Pitäjänmäki in Helsinki have been renewed with structures never before seen in Finland. The renewed fields use corn granules as infill. Being a plant-based material, corn granules are significantly more ecological than crumb rubber, for example, as they do not contain any microplastics or other substances that are harmful to the environment. In the past, artificial turf fields in Helsinki have also used plant-based infill made out of shredded olive pits and wood.

The Myllypuro and Pitäjänmäki artificial turf fields also feature curly pile instead of straight pile. Curly pile is more effective at binding the infill into the field than straight pile and prevents it from spreading elsewhere.

Meanwhile in Käpylä, city residents will soon get to play on an entirely new kind of artificial turf, as the Käpylä football pitch becomes the first artificial turf field in Helsinki that does not use any infill. The Käpylä pitch features a flexible base that contributes to the springiness and ease of use of the infill-free field. In the winter, the Käpylä pitch can also be frozen for ice skating purposes. Artificial turf fields need to be renewed approximately every ten years, which is another reason why an infill-free artificial turf is more ecological than old artificial turfs that use crumb rubber. Infill-free artificial turfs can be recycled as plastic waste, as they do not contain any rubber or sand, for example. Currently used artificial turfs, on the other hand, often have to be disposed of as hazardous waste, although in some cases decommissioned artificial turfs have also been successfully utilised at other sports venues.