Are you concerned about whether artificial grass is eco-friendly and good for surrounding wildlife?

This is really quite a complex issue. While it’s not necessarily a big concern for a lot of our customers, the surge in recent sales has provoked a reaction from environmentalists stating their concerns about the impact it can have on wildlife and habitat.

That’s why I really wanted to write a blog on the subject, as there are still ways to be responsible when installing fake grass in a garden.

As an artificial grass specialist with over eight years’ experience, let me explain more about being ecologically responsible below.

Is artificial grass definitely eco-friendly?

The answer is yes; at least, most artificial grass specialists should have their own eco-policy. A policy like this will specifically state that they will only undertake environmentally-friendly installations. But what do I mean by that?

Well, it means they’ll only install artificial grass in areas where trees, shrubs and plants are present. Insects and bees won’t buzz around fake grass the same way they would with real grass, which is why it’s so important to ensure there will be extra vegetation about.

If there are no plants, trees or shrubs in your garden, a good artificial grass specialist will suggest some options before installing your lawn. Most gardens will already have this in place, with artificial grass used to simply complement a garden.

Good quality artificial grass products are also made from recycled matter. And for dry areas where water is at a premium, artificial grass helps conserve precious water sources.

Fake grass vs real grass

Here are some factors to consider when looking at which is more environmentally friendly:

Maintenance

To get your natural lawn looking its best, it requires a lot of maintenance. This includes moving, blowing, trimming with gas and electric-powered tools – all creating air pollution that far outstrips the oxygen-producing benefits of real grass.

On the other hand, artificial grass requires very minimal maintenance to keep it looking great.

Although, you could allow your lawn to grow longer and allow wildflowers to grow. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is a more natural look!

Chemicals

If you use fertilisers on grass, this can lead to chemicals polluting the groundwater. Those fertilisers are also made from non-renewable sources, such as fossil fuels. There’s also a danger of over-fertilisation. Artificial grass requires no fertilisers or chemicals, and is often less toxic than chemically treated natural grass.

NOTE: Studies in the US showed that some older fake grass (manufactured before 2008) may have contained unsafe levels of lead. Most modern artificial grass are manufactured without this now, and should also be fire-retardant and non-toxic, as well as child and pet-friendly.

Life expectancy

Fake grass has a life expectancy of around 20 years if looked after correctly. This makes it a far less costly alternative to real turf, and think of all the years that you’re not mowing, blowing, trimming or fertilising your lawn!

On the downside, after those 20 years, artificial grass typically ends up going to landfill rather than being recycled. But, future technology is steadily looking for more ways to recycle artificial grass and produce more recyclable materials.

Manufacturing

By far, the greatest environmental sin occurs during the manufacturing of artificial grass. This is because the production of artificial grass materials is quite energy intensive.

Advice from an artificial grass specialist

We’d recommend working with a reputable company that will not sell you a product they know could be potentially harmful. As long as you have other flora in your garden, you shouldn’t be too worried about the environment, and the fake lawn will cut out the issue of constant mowing and fertilisers you’d have to use to get a nice-looking lawn.

We once had a customer who was very environmentally friendly. She was very concerned about fake grass being bad for the environment. However, once we explained all the benefits, and that she would have a nice-looking lawn all year round, she decided it would be a great investment.

She also had a lot of plants and trees in her garden, so we explained that by having fake grass, it wouldn’t affect the wildlife corridor. She also loved the fact that all our products are non-toxic, and now she is very happy with her new lawn and the minimal maintenance involved!

Conclusion

I hope this has helped ease your mind about whether artificial grass is eco-friendly compared to real grass. Both have their pros and cons, but always choose a reputable company who will be able to advise you about your options for ensuring wildlife will still be able to thrive in your garden.

Do you have any questions about artificial grass and the environment? Please leave me a comment below. I’ll be happy to answer!