“It performs almost like natural grass.”

On the 25th (local time), Jerk Care Fenemark, CEO of Sweden's advanced bio-material development company BIQ, pointed to the artificial turf infill laid at a soccer stadium in Gothenburg and said this. Typically, black rubber or cork granules are used as infill in artificial turf soccer fields. However, this stadium recently laid green granules made from eco-friendly materials.

This is a new concept eco-friendly infill developed and patented by BIQ using CJ CheilJedang's biodegradable bio-material 'PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates)'. The artificial turf infill using PHA is biodegradable, unlike the existing 'SBR rubber chip' material. The existing rubber infill, made from recycled tires, is made from petroleum materials, resulting in microplastics, which contrasts with this. This is why Europe, which emphasizes environmental protection through the use of eco-friendly materials when building various infrastructures, is recently paying attention to PHA.

● Attention to the PHA Artificial Turf Infill Market

PHA is a polymer substance that microorganisms naturally produce inside cells by consuming plant-derived components. After biodegradation, it can also be used as compost. CJ CheilJedang stated that the infill laid in this stadium uses amorphous PHA (aPHA), the only commercially produced form in the world.

The PHA infill actually felt similar in texture and elasticity to natural grass. Roque Gran, a coach of the Swedish professional soccer team IFK, which trains at this stadium, said, “It feels comfortable enough to be mistaken for a natural grass field,” and added, “Training on this field has significantly reduced knee, ankle, and hip joint injuries among players.”

Running on the field, the infill felt more elastic than artificial turf. It helped increase speed instantly. During sliding, it glided naturally compared to the stiff artificial turf. Fenemark explained, “On existing artificial turf, sliding tackles easily cause skin injuries, but there is no worry of injury where PHA is laid.”

The European Union (EU) plans to ban the use and sale of petroleum-based infill from 2031 to address safety issues with rubber infill. As a result, approximately 50,000 large and small artificial turf fields in Europe will need to replace existing rubber infill with eco-friendly materials.

● 'PHA Straw' that Decomposes in the Ground

PHA is currently being used in various fields such as straws, cosmetic containers, and paper tableware. Particularly, under the EU's 'Packaging Regulation (PPWR)' effective from August next year, companies exporting to Europe must reduce the use of petroleum-based plastics and use recyclable materials.

The Korean government is also expected to increase the use of PHA domestically as it plans to establish a 'Plastic-Free Roadmap' within this year under the national agenda 'Creating a Circular Economy Ecosystem'.

CJ CheilJedang launched the biodegradable material brand 'PHACT' in 2022 and has been applying PHA to various products. Last year, it developed PHA film packaging and introduced it to Olive Young's immediate delivery service 'Today Dream'. It also produced packaging for 'Hetbahn Cupban' using 'compostable paper coating technology' with PHA. Other products to reduce environmental burden include 'washable biodegradable sanitary cloths' and 'biodegradable straws'.

An industry insider stated, “Straws made of PHA can be buried in the yard and will turn into compost,” and predicted, “The range of PHA applications will expand to various fields.”

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